mosque school visits

School Visits

Visit to the mosque includes the following:, a general presentation about the islamic faith or a topic-related presentation at request, a guided tour of the mosque building accompanied by a faith guide observation of one of the daily prayers questions & answers group activities for schools free literature on islam for all visitors drinks and light refreshments provided,   * if you wish to book a group or school visit, please complete the form below.  , general rules.

All visitors are requested to:

• Respect the peace and prayer of worshippers inside the mosque.
• Remove their shoes and place in the designated shoe racks provided.
• Keep food and drinks out of the mosque, except areas that have been designated as eating areas.
• Avoid bringing any animals into the mosque.
• Keep the mosque’s building and courtyard clean by disposing off litter properly and safely.
• Abide by the general rules of the mosque as displayed around the building.
• No smoking in the building and on the mosque’s courtyard.
• Please note that we may discontinue any visit if find any disrespectful or inappropriate behaviour and ask visitors to leave the building.

Modest Dress

All visitors are requested to: 

• Adult and children above the age of 12 are requested to observe modest dress when visiting the mosque. Most aspects of a standard school uniform are quite appropriate as long as arms and legs are covered.
• Female visitors may cover their heads to show respect to other worshippers or to enrich their own experience.
• Young children under the age of 12 are not considered to be adults and may dress as they do in school unless they wish to adopt any part of Muslim attire for the day (hats/scarves) to enliven their visit.

School Visit

We would love to hear your feedback on your visit:, privacy overview.

School Visits

Update : school visits are now resuming for the new academic calendar. 

Wimbledon Mosque is the first mainstream purpose built Mosque in South London and one of the first in London and regularly host visits from schools in London and Surrey. To arrange a visit for your school please read the following frequently asked questions and then complete the online form. We aim to respond to your request within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions 1) What days can schools visit Wimbledon Mosque? Monday to Thursdays

2) What times can schools visit in the morning? 10:30AM onwards.

3) What times can schools visit in the afternoon? No afternoon visits.

4) How many children can visit at any given time? 60-70 children but flexible. Please contact us in advance if more children are expected.

5) How long is the school visit expected to last? Approximately 60-90 minutes.

6) Who is the main point of contact at Wimbledon Mosque for school visits? Imam Shoaib Vawda

7) How can a school visit be arranged? Please visit our Contact Us page to get in touch with us. We aim to respond within 48 hours. Please aim to contact us at least 4 weeks prior to any planned dates to visit.

8) What is the format of the school visit on the day? Imam gives a brief talk on Islam. Open Q&A session about Islam. Group tour of the Mosque including the ablution area. The visitor’s book signed.

Request a school visit

To request a school visit, please contact us via our Contact Us page and mention the following information below:

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Standard visitor sessions are Monday and Tuesday with two slots available on each day form  10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM .  Other sessions including evenings and weekends are available upon request. Please book well in advance (minimum of 3 weeks)  of your preferred dates as this very popular service attracts many bookings. A typical visit will be for 60 minutes in which we give a small presentation, answer any questions and take our visitors on a tour of our beautiful Mosque.

The Islamic Centre Leicester runs two sites in the city. All inter-faith and educational visits are held at the Central Mosque:

If you would like to arrange a visit then please contact the Leicester Central Mosque or fill out the visit request form .

The following guide will help in preparing for your visit and a risk assessment form is available for download.

Take the 360 Degree Virtual tour of the Leicester Central Mosque before your actual visit.

Pictures of recent groups visiting the Mosque.

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Prayer Times

Thursday 28th March 2024

17th Ramadhan 1445AH

Announcements

Zakaat Information:

Fitrah : £5.00

Fidya : £150.00

Nisaab Level :

24 Carat Gold - £4564.22

22 Carat Gold -  £4130.49

Silver -  £354.33

Payment of Zakaat on :

24 Carat - 1 Tola - £15.01

24 Carat - 1 Gram - £1.31

22 Carat - 1 Tola - £13.73

22 Carat - 1 Gram - £1.18

Silver - 1 Tola - £0.17

Silver - 1 Gram - £0.02

(Calculated at gold rate on 1st March 2024)

ICWA (Ladies) Events:

Please see click here to see the website event calendar for all ICWA (Ladies) events and programmes

• IslamicCentre Mailing list

Events Calendar

Mosque donations.

Lillah - Mosque Donation

Charity Donations

Zakaat, Sadaqa or Fitra Donation

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The experience of visiting a mosque can help children greatly to learn more of Islamic faith. Schools plan visits as part of their Religious Education curriculum and academics visit for historical and research purposes. Over the years, we have managed to arrange hundreds of mosques visits.

School visits take approximately 60 – 90 mins depending on the number of pupils. The visit normally starts with a tour of the facility, a brief introduction of the Islamic Faith followed by a ‘Question & Answer’ session. 

PRESENTATIONS

The children will be shown a colourful animation covering the 5 Pillars of Islam and in our Q&A Sessions, we answer all sort of questions like:

• What does a Muslim believe in and who is Allah?
• Why and how does a Muslim pray?
• Why does a Muslim have to give Charity and why is it important to do so?
• Why does a Muslim Fast for a whole month once a year and what are the benefits of fasting?
• Why does a Muslim go for Pilgrimage, what does he/she do and to where do they go?
• How Muslims believe in all the Prophets including the Final Prophet Muhammad and who he was?

Wycombe Mosque also sends one of its youth coordinators to schools in High Wycombe and surrounding areas as part of schools Religious Education to address the schools’ assemblies and answer questions relating to Islam.

BOOKING A MOSQUE VISIT

Use the  Contact Us  form to let us know when you would like to book a mosque visit and we will get back to you asap.

Mosque/School Visits

Important information regarding visits, update: we have had some issues with the form with responses not coming through to us. we do apologise for this. we have added a new form below. thank you all..

This page contains a contact form for schools/organisations to request school or mosque visits. Mosque/School visits can last between 90 -120  minutes. We can organise shorter sessions in the evenings for Scout groups.

We try to accommodate everyone but we have the following limitations:

• We can only accommodate 40 visitors in total for health and safety reasons.  
• We do try to arrange the visits as soon a possible, but please email us at least month before  the desired school/mosque visit date.
• Visits are preferred in the mornings before 12 pm. Visits normally start at 10 am .
• We  cannot  host mosque visits on  Friday , or during busy periods of the year like Ramadhan.
• We  cannot  guarantee dates but we will try our best to accommodate you.
• Most areas of the mosque are wheelchair accessible.  Please inform us in advance to ensure we can accommodate your accessibility needs.

Attire & Dress Code

All adult visitors and children are requested to wear modest clothing when visiting the mosque. For school children, most aspects of a standard school uniform are appropriate.

If you would like to visit the Mosque or to request someone to visit your school to speak about Islam, please fill in the contact form by clicking on the button below. 

9 Things to See in Moscow's Red Square

 Sir Francis Canker/Getty Images

In most cases, you'll be entering Red Square from the north, passing landmarks such as the Bolshoi Theatre and Duma parliament building as you make your way southward. Although you don't necessarily have to pass through the Voskresensky (or Resurrection in English) Gates in order to gain access to the square these days, they definitely provide a sense of arrival, to say nothing of the way their left arch frame's St. Basil's Cathedral if you look from just the right angle.

An interesting fact is that while a gate of some kind has stood here since the mid-16th century, the one you currently see wasn't built until 1994, having been destroyed in 1931 so that tanks could enter and exit Red Square during military parades.

St. Basil's Cathedral

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson 

Few sights are as iconic not only of Moscow and Red Square but indeed of Russia than St. Basil's Cathedral, whose colorful, onion-shaped domes are a symbol of the country around the world. Officially known as the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, this church has stood since 1561, which is quite miraculous when you consider all the turbulent history that has transpired since then.

Among other things, religion was severely prohibited during the Soviet period , which led some to believe that this emblem of the Russian Orthodox church might not withstand the tenure of the USSR. 

An interesting fact is that St. Basil's is the so-called "Kilometer Zero" of Russia; all of Moscow's main roads (which can take you anywhere in Russia) begin at the exits to Red Square. In this way, St. Basil's iconic status also has an extremely tangible element.

The Kremlin

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

When you think of The Kremlin, it's unlikely that positive images enter your mind. The fact that simply saying the word "Kremlin" is too vague a descriptor (most Russian cities have their own Kremlin complexes; you should say "Moscow Kremlin") notwithstanding, this misunderstood place is incredibly beautiful, even if you don't like the policy that comes out of it.

Senate Square

In spite of its name, which refers to the role the building that rises above the square played during Imperial Russia, Senate Square is actually home to Russia's presidential administration, currently helmed by Vladimir Putin. In order to see where Russia's legislature operates from, walk just outside Red Square to the Duma parliament building.

Dormition Cathedral

Dating back to the year 1479, the gold-domed Dormition Cathedral pays homage to an Orthodox religious feast that commemorates the death of the Virgin Mary . As is the case with St. Basil's, it is curious that such a conspicuously religious structure was able to survive through the Soviet period.

Armoury Chamber

Though it takes its name from the fact that it housed Russia's royal arsenal when it was built in the 16th century, the most notable resident of the Kremlin's Armoury Chamber today is the Russian Diamond Fund.

Notable Kremlin Towers

Robert Schrader

The interior of the Moscow Kremlin is more beautiful and inviting than you'd expect, but the walls and towers that rise around it better live up to the intimidation with which the complex is associated. 

Borovitskaya Tower

Named to commemorate the dense forest that once stood atop the mount where it's built, this tower is extremely picturesque. Built in the late 15th century, it's visible from most places in the square, and also as you walk along the Moskva River.

Nikolskaya Tower

Also built in the year 1491, this tower currently suffered destruction at the hands of Napoleon's army in the 19th century. What you see now is the result of an 1816 re-design and renovation, though artillery fire during the Russian Revolution also caused superficial damage to the tower, named to honor St. Nikolas of Mozhaysk , so it's difficult to know which elements of it are original.

Spasskaya Tower

Known in English as the "Savior's Tower," this iconic, star-topped tower is perhaps the best-known of all the Kremlin's towers. Built in 1491 like the other two towers on this list, it's certainly the most photographed. As a result of its proximity to St. Basil's, it often makes its way into tourists' pictures.

Mausoleum of Lenin

Just as it's strange to learn how many religious monuments survived through the Soviet period, it's a bit odd to think that Lenin's preserved body still sits in a mausoleum just beneath the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square, given the lack of consensus about the ultimate impact of his Revolution, even in Russia.

It's not guaranteed that you'll be able to see the body (which, believe it or not, seems to be improving with age ) when you go, and if you do you will likely have to wait in line, but even strolling past the outside of the Lenin Mausoleum, flanked by stone-faced guards that almost look like statues, illuminates the gravity of his body still being here.

GUM Shopping Center

You might cringe, at least initially, when you realize that one of the most iconic stops on a tour of Red Square is a department store—until you see said department store, that is. Built in 1893 and known during Soviet times as the State Department Store, GUM  ( Glávnyj Universáľnyj Magazín​ or Main Universal Store in English) hearkens back to the grandeur of the late 19th century, both seen from the outside (especially, when lit up at night) and the interior, which might have you feeling like you're further west in Europe.

A trip inside GUM is a particularly good idea during winter, when frigid temperatures outside will have you savoring the heat, the quality of souvenirs, confections and other goods sold inside notwithstanding. Also, make sure not to confuse GUM with CDM, which sits near the Bolshoi Theatre, even though both are stunning and iconic in their own right.

State Historical Museum

The Russian State Historical Museum is located near Voskresensky Gates, though you should wait until after you've seen the first few attractions of Red Square and the Kremlin to head back there and go inside. To be sure, as you pass by its facade (whose late-19th century grandeur somewhat obscures that fact that it's currently a museum accessible to the public) you might not even think to try and gain entry.

Once inside the museum, you can plan to spend at least a couple of hours, given that artifacts here date back to the very beginning of the Russian state in the ninth century. As is the case with GUM, this will be a particularly alluring prospect if you visit in winter, when Moscow is arguably at its most beautiful, but certainly at its least tolerable. 

Minin-Pozharsky Monument

It's somewhat easy to disregard this monument, which pays homage to the two Russian princes who ended the so-called "Time of Troubles" in the mid-16th century, during which Polish-Lithuanian forces occupied Russia, among other awful things including a famine. That's because the statue currently sits just at the base of St. Basil's Cathedral, which makes it very difficult to photograph or even see without being overwhelmed by that much more famous edifice.

Though the statue originally sat at the very center of Red Square, it came to be an obstacle to the movement of tanks during the Soviet period, much like the Voskresensky Gates. As a result, authorities moved it during that time, and it's stayed where you currently find it ever since.

Kazan Cathedral

Taken by itself, the smokey-pink Kazan Cathedral is an architectural marvel; originally built in the 17th century, the church you find here today, located just north of the GUM department store, dates back only to 1993.

Unfortunately, since it sits not only in the shadow of GUM, but also in the shadow St. Basil's and the Towers of the Kremlin, it's easy to miss entirely if you aren't looking. As a result, you might wait until you've seen just about everything else in Red Square before coming here to take photos, and to appreciate the understated beauty of this oft-overlooked cathedral.

Moskva River

As you head south from St. Basil's Cathedral to exit Red Square, make sure to walk onto Bolshoy Moskvoretskiy Bridge, which crosses the Moskva River. If you look due north, you can get an excellent shot of the church framed, on the left, by the towers of the Kremlin. Directing your gaze a bit to the west allows you to see the skyscrapers of Moscow City as they rise above the Kremlin's walls.

Walking westward along the riverbank is also a worthwhile excursion, for the views it provides of Red Square and the Kremlin, as well as the fact that doing so takes you to other iconic Moscow attractions, including Gorky Park and the Pushkin Museum. The views you enjoy from the river and the bridge are particularly stunning at night, though you should make sure you bring a tripod if you want to get a clear picture, given how strong winds over and near the river can be.

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Primary School Visits

Introducing Islam to children (Reception to Year 6) in a fun & engaging way using multi-sensory artefacts, video and quiz. The assembly is open to parents & carers too. Can be delivered face-to-face or virtually.

To promote a better understanding about Islam and challenge misconceptions in the community – we offer schools an Introduction to Islam workshop aimed at parents & carers, which includes an open Q&A session. Can be delivered face-to-face or virtually.

The Teaching & Learning about Islam Inset is a 90 Minute Twilight Staff meeting aimed at developing Islam subject knowledge, sharing resources and includes a discussion on tackling Islamophobia & radicalisation. Can be delivered face-to-face or virtually.

Pupil Workshops

We offer a wide range of engaging, informative and inspiring Islam workshops to support RE at your school. Workshops can be delivered face-to-face or virtually.

Workshop titles include:

• Q&A session with a Practising British Muslim
• Islamic artefacts
• Shahadah – 99 Names of Allah
• Stories from the life of Prophet Muhammad
• Salah / Prayer
• Zakah / Charity
• Sawm / Fasting in Ramadan & Eid
• Hajj / Pilgrimage to Mecca
• Life stages in Islam (Islamic births, weddings and funerals).
• Prophets in Islam
• Holy Books: Qur’an & Hadeeth
• Akhira / Life after death
• What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?
• Tackling Islamophobia

Muslim Learner Services in the News!

ST GEORGE’S JUNIOR SCHOOL (WEYBRIDGE) LEARN ABOUT ISLAM:

BOYS ENJOY INSTRUCTIVE HAJJ WORKSHOP! Read The Bolton News article here:

MARYPORT YOUNGSTERS LEARN ABOUT ISLAM! Read the Times and Star Newspaper article

BEXTON PUPILS LEARN ABOUT THE FIVE PILLARS! Read the Knutsford Guardian article here:

Read what schools have Tweeted about us…

Excellent rapport with all and a lot of very useful information. An Excellent Inset session and half day for the children.

Thank you for educating and protecting our children from assumptions about the muslim faith. imran had a great rapport with everyone he met in our school family and his engaging workshops introduced us all to the traditions of the muslim world. an enjoyable day was had by all., amanda rich, dear imran,, we had a positive visit to the mosque. the children enjoyed the visit as it was such a great opportunity to experience a mosque for themselves. we were all very impressed by the five star washrooms and by the space and simplicity of the prayer room. your visit followed by the mosque visit was the perfect finish to the children’s learning about islam.you have a very genuine and direct way of relating to the children. in addition, your teaching about islam during the assembly and the following workshops, was very clear, accessible and fun i will definitely be recommending you to other schools, sarah watson, it was a pleasure meeting you as well having you come to teach our children was such a privilege. your manner was lovely and they responded positively to you. overall, i would say the opportunity for them to touch, hold and use artefacts really engaged them. it was an experience that i believe our children need every year and will be a new nicholas hawksmoor tradition., kind regards, thank-you so much for your lovely email. i was just about to message you to tell you how much the children enjoyed today. they were really inspired by both your assembly and workshops and very keen to learn more once you had left.all of the staff told me how much they enjoyed you talks and how much they learned too. it has been a great start to further work we will do on islam. i hope that we will be able to get your back to our school again to continue this work., joanne clinch, thank you for the day we all learned so much and the workshops helped our children to develop the values of respect and tolerance. i will certainly recommend your work., miss jill lucas, what a pleasure it was for all of us here at st james to meet you. thank you so much for travelling from bolton and bringing your knowledge of islam, your insights, your sense of unity and your good humour. the children were clearly entranced by your assembly and the year 5 & 6 children captivated by their pilgrimage to mecca and the surrounding area. hopefully, we will meet again if not here then in the stands at old trafford keep up the good work., warmest regards, martin kettle, thank you so much for coming to visit us today; the children are really buzzing with excitement about the discussions and learning that you facilitated., we look forward to seeing you again, jacki piper, thank you imran for a great morning at our school. the assembly was very engaging, accessible and appropriate for all the children from reception to year 6.  the session on artefacts for the y3/4 children was super and really interactive with all the children being fully immersed in the activity and learning a great deal to add to their knowledge of islam.  the session on what it means to be muslim in britain today for the y5/6 children was also full of fascinating information and the children were discussing lots of things afterwards that they want to find out more about as there was so much new and fascinating information for them (especially as we live in quite a rural area where the children have such limited experience of meeting people from different cultures and religions).  the y1/2 children loved their q and a session and they were full of “why” questions to add to their understanding of islam.  all of the staff reported back that they were really impressed by your approach, the way you engaged and involved all the children and made them feel good about their contributions.  all of the children, including a few who have significant difficulties with learning and focusing, were really listening and involved with many less confident children answering questions.  we will be booking you again, probably for a full day next time so y5/6 children can go into more depth in their session.  thank you., nicki brough, imran’s whole school assembly was excellent and informative.  he kept all the children engaged throughout the assembly. the workshops were also informative and fun.  imran had a lovely manner with the children and the staff were very impressed. we would highly recommend imran to all schools., alison hulse, it was an absolute pleasure to have you working with us in school today. your sessions must make a huge difference for many children and staff and will hopefully impact on many peoples’ understanding of islam, which can only be for the good of everyone.thank you for your time, your thoughtfulness and the very accessible way in which you presented today – i really enjoyed it and had lots of positive feedback from teachers and children. it would be lovely to work with  you again in the future,, with very best wishes, wendy nicholas, sincere thanks for your visit to our lady’s yesterday. your inputs were thoroughly enjoyed by staff and pupils across the school.the children aged 4 -11 were fully engaged throughout the assembly, eagerly wanting to answer your questions.  all gained a great deal from the learning experiences you created and skillfully delivered.  your pitch was great, very informative and appropriate to each age range.  you covered a great deal in such a short amount of time.  teaching staff and pupils are excitedly discussing what they learnt and praising what a great experience it was. i would definitely recommend you to colleagues., thanks to you also for giving us a super insight into islam & making it all come alive for our children. it was a real pleasure to meet you & i’m sure that our pupils & staff have benefited so much from the experience. you pitched the sessions just right to engage even our youngest pupils. as we discussed earlier, i think it is essential in small, rural, ce schools such as ours that we are pro-active in our multi-faith work & having you visit as part of our special multi-faith day today has really helped us achieve that., thank you for a wonderful day imran. the children and staff have learned so much from you. children have asked for more days like yours and staff have commented on how engaging and informative your sessions and staff meeting were. we have already recommended your workshops to colleagues in other schools and will continue to do so. thank you once again, cara williams, many thanks for such a great day yesterday. our children were so motivated and interested in everything you presented to them. they have talked about the workshops all day today and you really brought the islamic faith to life for them in such a meaningful and memorable way. i know that their knowledge and understanding has been enhanced in a way we could never have done without your help.we look forward to welcoming you into our school again in the future and we will definitely be recommending you to other schools in our area., with our grateful thanks and very best wishes., thank you so much for coming in today. the children were excited to go home and share their new knowledge and understanding. i will be doing a follow up evaluation with them for my re portfolio and obviously i’ll forward you the feedback. i will certainly spread the word amongst colleagues as it was all such an engaging way to learn and discover. mr williams, mrs harper and mr ayre all reported just what brilliant sessions they had also, thank you again and hopefully we will see you again in school soon., imran’s assembly was fun interactive and enjoyable for all the children from reception to year 6. the children enjoyed learning all about the islam religion, their beliefs and customs. i would highly recommend the assembly to enhance learning about other faiths., thanks again for coming in to all three schools in the trentside federation – such great feedback from west butterwick, st martin’s and haxey primary schools. hope your drive back to bolton was ok.have a lovely weekend., good morning imran, i have come in to school this morning and every member of staff that i have seen so far today has told me how much they enjoyed our staff meeting and how interesting it was. they also said how comfortable you made them feel and that they felt they could ask any questions and you wouldn’t think it was a ‘silly’ question., thanks so much for your email. we’ve had such positive comments from pupils and we’re also touched that our community of parents are so engaged and supportive of our re curriculum. it was a pleasure to meet you today. thanks so much for coming to visit dringhouses take care and thanks again, we are delighted to have built this relationship with you and know how much our children enjoyed your visit yesterday., we all really enjoyed the day yesterday and the staff and pupils are still talking about it. ks1 have asked again if they could have you run workshops for them next term so that would be great., you were a very welcome visitor yesterday feedback from all around the school was very positive. i’m convinced the impact on the children from the relatively short time they spent with you is huge. as you said very early on in your assembly, people just need to talk to each other (and then the vastness of the common ground shared becomes obvious).i thought that in the assembly, the children (and staff) immediately warmed to you. you have a very warm and gentle presence. the football reference no doubt helped enormously the content of the assembly was simple and effective. i’m hoping that the children were making links themselves with our own religious practices as you spoke and explained. the response from the children was great – so many hands up wanting to contribute., thank you for a fantastic day the children, staff, governors and parents learnt a great deal and found the whole experience enlightening. we were particularly pleased with how well you interacted with the children of all ages and made the workshops pertinent to their needs and level of understanding. no doubt we will be contacting you again in the future to visit again, or perhaps to speak with you regarding possible visits for our children beyond our school. i will certainly be passing on the details and successes of the workshops to fellow headteachers so i think that you may find yourself being contacted again from cumbria the children are keen to email you their questions which they will do shortly; if you were able to respond to them, they would be very pleased., i had been trying to arrange for imran to come in to our school ever since meeting him on a course, i knew he would be amazing and he definitely did not disappoint. the whole school assembly was fun, interactive and a great learning experience for all ages of children. the way imran spoke to the children it was obvious he is an outstanding teacher with great knowledge and humour. the workshop again was very ‘hands on’ with lots of student participation, the lesson flowed perfectly and the children were hanging on imran’s every word. he was patient with our questions and very honest, really opening the eyes of the children and giving them a different view point from the negative news they are used to hearing about muslims. all children have been talking about our visit and have asked when imran can come back into school, one boy told his mum he wasn’t sure what to expect but after the visit he said it was the best school visit ever., melissa sykes, dear imran, thank you so much for your teaching yesterday. the staff and children were inspired and enlightened by your knowledge. i hope that you weren’t too exhausted by the end of it we definitely kept you talking. many thanks for the beautiful scroll that you left with us. we intend to display for all to see. keep up the fabulous work that you do..

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Ashton Central Mosque

Mosque visits.

The Ashton Central Mosque welcomes the community and members of all faiths into its premises. It organises open days, school visits and awareness programmes to all governmental and local organisations and institutions.

Police officer joining the GMP also visit the Mosque to dispel any misconceptions and learn the true message of Islam. Tameside Councillors, Local Magistrates, Members of DWP,  have also visited the Mosque with bespoke presentations prepared to strengthen communal ties and learn about Muslims and Islam.

The Mosque on average has over 1,000 students from local primary and secondary schools visit throughout the year. The Imam and Volunteers work closely with teachers to make students’ learning effective and holistic. 

To organise a tour or visit the Mosque please fill in the form below and email. We also visit schools for assemblies and workshops. To request a visit please email us. 

For Primary schools ranging from year 5 to year 8 email – [email protected]

For Secondary schools ranging from year 9 + email – [email protected]

All visitors to the Mosque must wear modest and loose clothing. Full length trousers to the ankles and full sleeve tops/shirts to the wrists with high neck tops. 

Please click here to read the Visiting FAQ’s before completing the Booking Form 

Ashton Central Mosque Visiting Form

Visiting Hours:

Mondays – Thursdays 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – for exceptions please contact the Imam / Volunteer

Excluding Fridays, Religious Holidays and the Month of Ramadan

Visit Details:

The visits include a bespoke presentation on Islam, specific for each school, organisation and age group, followed by an activity and a Q&A session. The schools and organisations can also view live prayers taking place and tour the entire Mosque and enjoy refreshments before they leave.

Approximate Visit Schedules:

Arrival, Meet & Greet, Sitting & Introductions 15 Minutes

Presentation 60-75 Minutes

Q&A 15 Minutes

Activities 15-30 Minutes

View Live Prayers 5/10 Minutes

Mosque Tour 15 Minutes

Refreshments 10/15 Minutes

Ashton Central Mosque – BBC – Cbeebies – Treasure Champs – Episode Respect

2019 – We Welcomed 25 Primary & Secondary School + Local Organisation Visits

2018 – We Welcomed 28 Primary & Secondary School + Local Organisation Visits

2017 – We Welcomed 24 Primary & Secondary School + Local Organisation Visits

2016 – We Welcomed 17 Primary & Secondary School + Local Organisation Visits

2015 – We Welcomed 11 Primary & Secondary School + Local Organisation Visits

Local School Visits & Comments:

The Ashton Central Mosque also annually opens it’s community hall and car park to hosts St.James’ sports day and providing drinks and refreshments for all students and parents

Visitors Comments:

“Your have given us a clearer understanding of your religion and what a mosque is like. It was very interesting and enjoyable” “Great hosts, fantastic experience” “I wish I could go again!” “We had a really good time at the mosque and are grateful for all the information we were given.” “5 out of 5 for everything! A great experience”

Phil Jones, Operational Support Officer, Tameside North INPT, Greater Manchester Police

“I was fortunate to attend the Mosque with my work colleagues, as we were invited to attend an “Islamic Awareness Seminar” We were made to feel very welcome and personally I found the seminar very interesting and informative. We were treated to a tour of the magnificent building and I was especially impressed with the chandelier! I recommend that as many Police officers as possible visit the mosque and enjoy the hospitality that I did”

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London Central Mosque Trust & The Islamic Cultural Centre

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Educational Visits and Tours

Introduction, fee structure:, frequently asked questions, contact information, school visit testimonials.

Thank you so much for the visit. It was fantastic and the children really enjoyed it. The visit to the London Central Mosque was the perfect complement to the studies on Islam. The children really liked learning about the Quran, the prayer and the history of Islam. They particularly enjoyed the visit to the prayer hall and witnessing the second prayer. Mr Bennetts encouraged curiosity and answered the children's questions clearly and he pitched the talk at a great level for the children. They really enjoyed it! Thank you again and hope to see you next year! Knightsbridge School

Just a quick note to thank you so much for such a wonderful, informative tour from which the children gained so much. It was so lovely to be back at Regent's Park Mosque. Thank you for letting us use that lovely room for our base, just off the library. That worked so well. To see the midday prayers is always a highlight in the majestic prayer hall and the exhibition Islam. Thank you Peter - you are a star - it was all terrific and tied in so much with their learning. Take care and best wishes Holmewood House School Paul Morgan-Jones

The Oxford University PGCE course in Religious Education has used the educational resource centre of the Central London Mosque now for close on or even exceeding a decade and we have found always the visits to be an invaluable source of learning for all students. They benefit hugely from Peter�s superbly insightful presentations of Islam and the openness with which Peter and all his staff deal with questions from our very theologically informed students. I cannot praise the value of the educational work of the Central London Mosque too highly. It is especially important from the perspective of mutual cultural and religious understanding as well as academic knowledge, and experientially will serve students, as it does myself, their tutor, for a lifetime in the profession of teaching. Oxford University Liam Gearon

The London Central Mosque Trust Ltd.

Address: 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG United Kingdom

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Moscow Central Mosque

The  Moscow Central Mosque also known as(  Moscow Cathedral Mosque ) today impresses with its magnificence. Its history starts with the year 1904. That's when the first cathedral mosque was built in Moscow. A Moscow architect Nikolay Zhukov developed the project, and the famous Tatar merchant Salih Erzin became the patron. In the era of the Soviet Union, it was the only mosque in the city, which was not closed and held worship services. However, in the year 2005 it was decided to renovate, and in 2011 construction began on the new mosque, designed by architects Ilias Tažieva and Alexei Kolenteeva .

Description

In the architectural ensemble of the new Cathedral Mosque in Moscow you will notice several historical and cultural throwbacks. So, for example, the two main minarets are taller than 70 m (230 ft.) and very similar in shape to the famous leaning tower of the Kazan Kremlin (Söyembikä) and to the Spasskuû Tower of the Moscow Kremlin.

This idea is a symbol of unity and friendship of the Russian and Tatar peoples. A huge 46-metre golden dome mosque, on whose cover together with minarets took about 12 tons of gold leaf, which echoes the way Orthodox "golden-domed Moscow". Do not forget to pay tribute to the architects and the original appearance of the mosques: old walls have been collected anew, they successfully fit in with new interior, while retaining the old look, and on top of one of the minarets was placed a Crescent, which adorned the old building.

The new mosque has traits of a Byzantine style, this 6-storey building is crowned with a few different sizes of minarets, domes and towers. Compared to the original building, the area of the new mosque has almost 20 times as much space and amounted to 18900 sq. m. Prayer rooms for men and women now accommodate about 10,000 people.

 In addition, there are rooms in the mosque, where the ritual ablution, a large hall for imams, traditional ceremonies: five times daily, Friday, and holiday prayers, Nikah, janaza (funeral prayer) and the naming of children.

 Numerous patterns and decorative elements meet the traditions of Muslim architecture, colors used in classic designs for Islam such as emerald, green, blue and white. On the inside of the dome, the walls and ceiling of the mosque are paintings representing the sacred verses from the Koran, made by Turkish masters.

More than 320 fixtures placed on the walls and ceiling are used to illuminate the mosques. Most of them repeat the shape of the main dome of the mosque on a different scale. The Central chandelier in the main hall is a giant lamp 8 m tall and weighs 1.5 tons. On its creation worked fifty Turkish masters over three months.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Cathedral_Mosque

https://voschod.ru/en/recreations/moscow-cathedral-mosque

Russia, Moscow

Worshippers

Year of Build

18900 sq. m

Moscow Cathedral Mosque

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque is the main mosque of Moscow, the largest in Russia and Europe. The first building of the mosque was built in 1904, it housed a religious school which, after the revolution of 1917, became a secular Tatar school. During the Soviet period, the mosque did not close and even became the only functioning mosque in central Russia after 1936. With the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, the mosque, located next to the Olympic sports complex under construction, was threatened with demolition. The mosque was saved by Moscow's religious leaders and ambassadors from Arab countries. In 2011, it was demolished for the construction of a new mosque, which was opened in 2015.

About this building

Other nearby buildings.

Sretensky Monastery

The Sretensky Monastery is an orthodox monastery built in the 14th century. The modern monastery complex includes the Sreteniye Cathedral of the Vladimir Mother of God Icon with two chapels, galleries, a belfry and a few service buildings. The monastery is the place where the Our Lady of Vladimir met Muscovites in the late 14th century. At the meeting place with the icon (that is, Sreteniya), a wooden church was built in honor of the Vladimir icon, rebuilt in stone in 1679. In 1918 the monastery was closed, and from 1928 to 1930, all the churches, except the Our Lady of Vladimir, and almost all the buildings were destroyed. Since 1958, the cathedral housed the restoration workshops of I. Grabar. The monastery was reopened in 1995. It houses the largest Orthodox publishing house, the famous male choir, and a seminary.

Saint Basil's Cathedral

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as Saint Basil's Cathedral, is a Christian church in Red Square in Moscow, Russia and is regarded as a symbol of the country. The building, now a museum, is officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat. It was built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. It was the city's tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. The original building, known as Trinity Church and later Trinity Cathedral, contained eight churches arranged around a ninth, central church of Intercession; a tenth church was erected in 1588 over the grave of venerated local saint Vasily (Basil). The building is shaped like the flame of a bonfire rising into the sky, a design that has no parallel in Russian architecture.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary is a neo-Gothic Catholic Church at Moscow's center, that serves as the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Moscow. Located in the Central Administrative Okrug, it is one of three Catholic churches in Moscow and the largest in Russia. The construction of the cathedral was approved in 1894 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs under Tsarist Russia. Groundbreaking was in 1899; construction work began in 1901 and was completed ten years later. Three-aisled and built from red brick, the cathedral is based on a design by architect Tomasz Bohdanowicz-Dworzecki. The style was influenced by Westminster Abbey and Milan Cathedral. In 2002 it was elevated to the status of cathedral. Following an extensive and costly program of reconstruction and refurbishment, the cathedral was reconsecrated in 2005. In the 21st century, the cathedral is once again the setting for regular liturgical celebrations in multiple languages—Russian, Polish, Korean, English, French, Spanish, Armenian and Latin—as well as benefit concerts featuring organ and church music. The cathedral is listed as a heritage building in the Russian Federation, and is a protected monument.

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• Surrey Jamia Mosque Al Mustafa
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Etiquette for a Visit to a Mosque

Visits to the mosque should be booked in advance by telephone, email, post or in person. Preferred visit times and days are between 10.00 am and 12:30 pm. (Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). We will provide the 1-hour session for the visit; more time can be arranged on request and are subject to availability.

1-A usual visit to the mosque consists of the following: 2-Multi-media presentation about the Islamic faith.

                                      Question & Answers & Discussion Session

• A guided tour of the mosque building accompanied by a faith guide.
• Observation of one of the daily or special prayer services.
• Interactive activities for school children.

We usually provide snacks or treats for visitors. Please let us know if any visitors suffer from any allergies in this respect. We usually provide snacks or treats for visitors. Please let us know if any visitors suffer from any allergies in this respect. For primary school children, we also have special worksheets prepared about the mosque which they may take back with them. There is also free literature on Islam for all visitors.

                                                        General Rules

  All visitors are requested to:

• Respect the peace and prayer of worshippers inside the mosque. Remove their shoes in certain specific areas around the mosque.
• Keep food and drinks out of the mosque, except areas that have been designated as eating areas.
• Avoid bringing any animals into the mosque. Keep the mosque’s building and courtyard clean by disposing of litter properly and safely.
• Abide by the general rules of the mosque as displayed around the building.
• Avoid smoking in the building and on the mosque’s courtyard.
• Please note that we may discontinue any visit if find any disrespectful or inappropriate behaviour and ask visitors to leave the building.

                                                      Modest Dress

All adult visitors and children above the age of 12 are requested to observe modest dress when visiting the mosque. Most aspects of a standard school uniform are quite appropriate as long as arms and legs are covered. Female visitors may cover their heads to show respect to other worshippers or to enrich their own experience. Young children under the age of 12 are not considered to be adults and may dress as they do in school unless they wish to adopt any part of Muslim attire for the day (hats/scarves) to enliven their visit.

Frequently Asked Questions 1) What days can schools visit Redhill Mosque? Monday to Thursdays

2) What times can schools visit in the morning? 10:00AM to 12 noon .

3) What times can schools visit in the afternoon? No afternoon visits are available.

4) How many children can visit at any given time? 60-70 children but flexible. Please contact us in advance if more children are expected.

5) How long is the school visit expected to last? Approximately-60 minutes.

6) Who is the main point of contact at Redhill Mosque for school visits? Head Imam: Sajid Latif Qadri

7) How can a school visit be arranged? Please send us the email we will aim to respond within 48 hours. Please aim to contact us at least 4 weeks prior to any planned dates to visit.

8) What is the format of the school visit on the day? Imam gives a brief talk on Islam. Open Q&A session about Islam. Group tour of the Mosque including the ablution area.

                                          Contributions/Donations

Visits to the mosque are free of charge. However, because the mosque is a registered charity, donations towards our services are always welcome and appreciated .

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Moscow Cathedral Mosque

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Visitor Tips

• The mosque can be easily accessed via the metro. Just take Koltsevaya line 5 (brown) and stop at Prospekt Mira station and walk towards the stadium. It’ll take you about 5 -7 min to walk.
• Men and women use separate doors to enter. You’ll need to take off your shoes. Women have to put on a robe with a hood that is offered for free. You'll leave your coats and shoes in a cloakroom.
• You may visit the mosque on your own or book a tour. We think that a tour of the Moscow cathedral Moscow will be interesting not only for Muslims but for any visitor of Moscow. The visit will give you a chance to explore amazing interiors and learn the history of Islamic culture in Russia. We may include the visit in any of your Moscow trips .
• If you book a tour the guide can accompany you on a roof-top panoramic platform which gives you a chance to see the building from a different perspective.
• You may find several halal cafes in the area.

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Israel blocks thousands of Palestinians from visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli authorities have tightened restrictions for Palestinians travelling to holy mosque from occupied West Bank, adding to tensions.

Israeli authorities have blocked thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, adding to mounting tensions.

Despite tight Israeli restrictions on access to Al Aqsa Mosque, 80,000 worshippers made it to the holy site for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, the Quds News Network reported, citing the Islamic Waqf that manages the mosque compound.

Keep reading

Prayers at al-aqsa mosque after first day of ramadan, israeli forces beat worshippers outside al-aqsa on ramadan eve, israel to restrict access to al-aqsa mosque during ramadan, israeli settlers storm al-aqsa mosque complex on fifth day of sukkot.

But thousands more Palestinians from the occupied West Bank were denied entry to occupied East Jerusalem, where a heavy Israeli security presence surrounds the mosque.

Only men over the age of 55 or women over the age of 50 are allowed to enter the mosque, and all must have a valid permit, making the site, which is the third holiest site in Islam, inaccessible to the vast majority of Palestinians.

More than 95 percent of all Palestinians are prohibited from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative.

“The portion of the community that is allowed is very small – people who are above the age of 55,” he told Al Jazeera from Ramallah, adding that even they had to go through a hard process to enter the holy site.

“First of all, they have to get a special magnetic security card from the Israelis, which takes a lot of time to acquire. Not everybody can get it and many people are deprived from it,” the Palestinian official said. “They also have to get a special permit from the Israelis directly. These complications prevent many people.”

He said the situation was creating more tension “because many people are angry”.

“The tension inside the mosque is very high because of the Israeli restrictions, beating of the people and provocations. I expect that there will be trouble, because of all these provocations,” Barghouti concluded.

‘Deceiving the world’

One Palestinian Muslim, who did not wish to be identified, told Al Jazeera that when he attempted to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque, he was turned away by the Israeli army.

“The number of soldiers is greater than the number of worshippers,” he said. “I’m 62, and I presented my ID, but my access was denied … although [the Israeli army] said that those who are over 55 can enter the mosque without a permit.”

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reporting from the Qalandiya checkpoint outside East Jerusalem said previously, there were no age restrictions on women, and the age restriction for men was 45.

“All worshippers must also have valid entry permits, a document many Palestinians say they did not know they needed. We’ve seen people being turned away at the checkpoint for this reason, and Israeli soldiers are surrounding the nearby area,” she said.

“There are additional restrictions on Palestinians leaving Al-Aqsa. They must submit their papers at a checkpoint while leaving Jerusalem or even take a selfie and submit it on an application managed by the Israeli government.”

On Friday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “deceiving the world” when he said no additional measures would be imposed to limit access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan compared with previous years.

The ministry said in a statement posted on X that the Israel prime minister had given far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir the freedom to implement restrictions, including erecting barricades, to prevent the entry of Palestinian worshippers.

The ministry called on the international community and the United States to intervene to end these “racist” policies and ensure that the right to worship is upheld.

According to a 1967 status quo agreement with Israel, Jordan is responsible for overseeing the Al-Aqsa compound via the Waqf Council.

Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri said there is “no room for compromise on Al-Aqsa” after Israel implemented restrictions on Palestinian access.

Al-Aqsa “will remain open no matter what happens,” the preacher said, adding that the fact that worshippers were travelling to the compound despite the circumstances was “a message to those who want to harm Al-Aqsa”.

India court effectively bans madrasas in big state before election

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Krishna is the editor for politics and general news in India. He has also closely tracked India’s health industry and all things Bangladesh. He was a member of teams that won the Society of Publishers in Asia awards in 2017 and 2018 for Reuters coverage of the Bangladesh Bank heist and the Rohingya refugee crisis. He served as Malaysia bureau chief in 2019 and 2020 before returning home.

India will send two delegations next month to Chile to scout for lithium and copper resources, a government source said, as rapid economic expansion and New Delhi's efforts to speed up the energy transition stoke demand for critical minerals.

South Africa bus crash kills 45 Easter pilgrims, Transport Ministry says

A bus crash in South Africa's northern province of Limpopo resulted in 45 deaths and one serious injury, South Africa's Department of Transport said on Thursday.

Russian forces attacked infrastructure sites early on Friday in Kamianske district near the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro and at least one person was injured, the regional governor said.

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March 24 Moscow concert hall attack

By Heather Chen , Andrew Raine , Catherine Nicholls, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury and Kathleen Magramo , CNN

Our live coverage of the Moscow concert hall attack has moved here.

Suspects in deadly concert hall attack facing life imprisonment. Here's what we know

From CNN staff

All four suspects in the Crocus City concert hall attack case have been remanded into pre-trial detention until May 22.  

They are charged with committing a terrorist act, according to the courts of general jurisdiction of the city of Moscow, which under the Russian Criminal Code is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Three of the defendants pled guilty to all charges, according to state media news agency TASS.

All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and had been in Russia on either temporary or expired visas.

Friday's attack left at least 137 people dead. The attack is Russia's deadliest in two decades .

Catch up on the latest developments:

• Day of mourning: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Sunday a day of national mourning for the 137 victims in Friday's attack .
• Authorities work to identify victims: Procedures to identify those killed in the attack have begun, the city’s Department of Health said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Russian Investigative Committee said 62 bodies had been identified so far, adding that "for the remaining victims, genetic examinations are being carried out to establish their identities."
• Fighting terrorism in Syria and Turkey: Putin held separate calls with his Turkish and Syrian counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar al-Assad, on Saturday and promised closer cooperation in fighting terrorism following the attack, according to a Kremlin readout.
• Russian Embassy says no warnings from US: The Russian Embassy in Washington says it did not receive any warnings about a potential attack in Moscow from the US. Last week, Putin dismissed warnings by the US embassy in Russia that there could be attacks on large groups.
• Putin links attack to Ukraine: Putin said the main suspects arrested planned to flee into Ukraine. Ukraine has denied any connection. The UK warned that Russia was creating a "smokescreen of propaganda."
• Terror alert: France has lifted its terror alert to its highest level following the deadly attack in Moscow, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Sunday.

Here's what we know about the four suspects in the Moscow concert hall attack

From CNN’s Masha Angelova and Josh Pennington

Each of the four defendants charged with committing a terrorist act in the Crocus City concert hall attack was brought to court individually in Moscow on Sunday.

They are accused of committing a crime under part 3, provision “b” of article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code (terrorist act), which the Russian Criminal Code states is punishable with up to life imprisonment.

Three pled guilty to all charges, according to state media news agency TASS .

Here's what we know about the accused:

• Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev: The 32-year-old was the first defendant brought to court. Mirzoyev, from Tajikistan, had a temporary registration for three months in the southern Russian city of Novosibirsk in Siberia, but it expired, according to RIA Novosti.
• Saidakrami Rachabalizoda: He appeared as the second defendant, and told the the court that he had Russian registration documents but couldn't remember where they were. He communicated through an interpreter, according to state media RIA Novosti. Rachabalizoda was reportedly born in 1994.
• Shamsidin Fariduni: He was born in 1998 in Tajikistan and is a citizen of the Central Asian country. Fariduni was officially employed at a factory in the Russian city of Podolsk and was registered in the city of Krasnogorsk, according to state media RIA Novosti.
• Muhammadsober Faizov: The fourth defendant appeared nonresponsive in a wheelchair and was accompanied by a doctor to his court appearance, as seen in Moscow City Court’s video shared on Telegram. Faizov was temporarily unemployed, before which he worked in a barber shop in Ivanovo, a city northeast of Moscow, and is registered in that city, according to state media RIA Novosti. He was reportedly born in 2004.

This post has been updated with more information on the charges against the suspects.

Moscow court orders preventive detention for all four defendants in concert hall attack case

The Basmanny District Court of Moscow on Sunday granted the investigators’ motion for detention, as the chosen preventative measure, for all four defendants in the Crocus City Hall attack case.

All four men have been remanded into pre-trial detention until May 22, stated Moscow City Court via Telegram.  

They are all charged with committing a terrorist act, according to the courts of general jurisdiction of the city of Moscow, which under the Russian Criminal Code is punishable up to life imprisonment.

Each of the four defendants was brought to court individually on Sunday.

Three pled guilty to all charges, according to state media news agency TASS. 

The names of the four accused in the case are Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, Moscow City Courts announced via Telegram.

All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and have been in Russia on either temporary or expired visas.  

The court held closed hearings for each of the accused with no members of the public allowed, TASS reported, citing the court’s press service. 

2 defendants identified in Crocus City Hall attack

From CNN’s Masha Angelova, Michael Bodenhorst and Josh Pennington

The first defendant in the Crocus City concert hall attack case, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, has pleaded guilty on all counts, the press service of Moscow City Court told state media RIA Novosti.

He will be held in preventive custody at least through May 22. 

Mirzoyev is one of two defendants implicated in the attack who are facing possible life imprisonment, as reported by state media.

The suspects — Mirzoyev and Saidakrami Rachabalizoda — appeared in a Moscow court on Sunday on charges related to the attack.

Both individuals are accused of committing a terrorist act and could be sentenced to life imprisonment, according to state media outlet RIA Novosti. The prosecution has requested detention as a precautionary measure for both defendants.

Authorities have petitioned the court to conduct Mirzoyev's hearing behind closed doors to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings, state media news agency TASS reported. 

First suspect apprehended in the Crocus City Hall attack arrives in court

From CNN’s Masha Angelova

The first suspect apprehended after the attack on Crocus City Hall that killed at least 137 people has arrived in court at the Basmanny Court of Moscow. 

Crocus City Hall killings are deadliest since Beslan school siege — these are some other recent attacks in Russia

From CNN Staff

The attack on Moscow's popular Crocus City Hall that left at least 133 dead has become the deadliest attack in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.

Some other recent attacks include:

• September 26, 2022 : Eleven children and four adults were killed when a gunman wearing Nazi symbols opened fire at a school in the western Russian city of Izhevsk. The shooter, who was reportedly wearing a black T-shirt with Nazi insignia and a helmet, died by suicide following the attack.
• April 3, 2017 : At least 11 people were killed in a blast on the St. Petersburg metro. The explosion tore through a train as it was traveling between two stations in Russia’s second-largest city.
• October 31, 2015 : A Russian passenger jet, Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed  on October 31 after departing from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh,  killing all 224 people  on board. US intelligence analysis suggested that ISIS or its affiliates  planted a bomb on the plane .
• December 30, 2013 : A massive explosion at a train station in the Russian city of Volgograd killed at least 16 people, including one police officer, the Investigative Committee of Russia said.
• January 25, 2011 : A suicide bomber attacked Domodedovo Airport , Moscow's busiest airport, killing 35 people and wounding about 100, authorities and state television said.
• March 29, 2010 : Two explosions rocked the subway stations in central  Moscow during rush hour, killing at least 38 people and wounding more than 60 others, spawning widespread public outrage. A website associated with Chechen separatists, who have long fought for independence from Russia, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Rescuers, robotic systems and canine teams are currently on site of Crocus City concert hall

From CNN’s Darya Tarasova and Eve Brennan

More than 300 “specialists” and 154 pieces of equipment are currently on site at the Crocus City concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, where a deadly attack took place Friday , Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Telegram on Sunday.

The ministry said more than 400 cubic meters of structures had been dismantled by rescuers while specialized robotic systems, canine teams and psychologists from the ministry continue to work.

More than 1,600 calls have already been received on the department’s hotline, the ministry added.

The post was accompanied by a video showing dozens of emergency workers digging through the rubble of the partially burned-down concert hall.

Remember : At least 137 people died on Friday after attackers opened fire on civilians at the Crocus City concert hall, and set the building ablaze. The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, has claimed the attack and  released graphic footage  purporting to show the incident. 

Putin lit a candle in memory of victims of the concert hall attack

From CNN's Eve Brennan and Anna Chernova

Russian President Vladimir Putin lit a candle Sunday in memory of victims of the deadly attack at the Crocus City concert hall in Moscow region on Friday.

Putin also expressed deep condolences following the Moscow shooting, calling it a "barbaric terrorist act" in a video statement released Saturday.

More background: The deadly attack comes barely a week after Putin secured his fifth presidential term. The large-scale attack is damaging for a leader who portrays himself as someone able to guarantee order.

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Arvind Kejriwal: the Delhi chief minister jailed by Modi’s government

Leader of India’s Common Man party has spent his career rooting out everyday corruption and is now in jail weeks before general election begins

• India summons envoy after US criticises Delhi chief minister’s arrest

When Arvind Kejriwal emerged on to India’s political scene in 2011 , he was an outsider with over a decade of activism behind him. Today he is one of the country’s most recognised opposition leaders and his political party governs two powerful states.

Yet Kejriwal’s swift rise from newcomer to political heavyweight, standing up against the might of the Narendra Modi government, has appeared to come at a cost. Last week, Kejriwal, who is the longstanding face of India’s anti-corruption movement, was detained on corruption charges – becoming the first sitting chief minister to be arrested . He will be held in custody for at least 10 days.

The case against him was instigated by a powerful investigation agency under the control of the Modi government. Kejriwal called it a political conspiracy to crush his party and tarnish its chances in India’s election, which begins next month. The Modi government denies any political agenda.

Kejriwal did not come from a political background. A mechanical engineer who later worked for the income tax department, he instead rose to prominence through his civilian activist movements focusing on transparency and rooting out everyday corruption. In the 1990s, he began the organisation Parivartan, which helped people access information from the government and exposed bribery scams.

After the success of several campaigns, including protests against corruption in India’s Commonwealth Games, in 2011 Kejriwal formed his own political party, called the Aam Aadmi (“common man”) party, starting out in Delhi .

Kejriwal’s drive against corruption made him a popular figure and the AAP swiftly grew to be a political force in the capital. In 2013, the AAP defied the odds to wrest power from the established parties and win the state assembly elections .

Kejriwal did not last long as chief minister, resigning just two months later when his party failed to pass a pivotal transparency bill that he had run his campaign on. It proved politically savvy in the long run, boosting his popularity for being seen to stand by his anticorruption principles.

In the next state assembly elections in 2015, the AAP won a resounding victory , returning Kejriwal to power and beating Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which had won the general election the year before. It was the beginning of a rivalry between the two parties, which escalated after the AAP beat the BJP again in the 2020 state elections.

Kejriwal’s government was praised for improving Delhi’s schools and healthcare as well as welfare schemes giving away free electricity, but faced criticism for being seen to pander to Hindu nationalist politics and for failing to tackle Delhi’s pollution, which remains the worst in the world. Many of the AAP’s early champions have left the party, disillusioned by its governance.

Nonetheless, in 2022 the AAP won the state elections in Punjab, a big step in establishing it as a political force beyond the capital.

Since coming to power in Delhi, Kejriwal has repeatedly accused the Modi government of trying to undermine and sabotage the actions of his state government.

The AAP government’s attempts to overhaul Delhi’s complex and archaic alcohol licensing laws , and open up the market to private vendors, ran Kejriwal afoul of India’s enforcement directorate, a central government agency tasked with investigating large-scale financial fraud.

Not long after the AAP returned to power, the directorate began to investigate the party, alleging it was using the new alcohol licensing laws to favour certain so-called liquor barons for lucrative deals in exchange for billions of rupees in kickbacks.

Party officials deny any corruption but several senior figures were rounded up and detained, including Kejriwal’s close ally and deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, who has been in jail for over a year.

This year, the directorate summoned Kejriwal for questioning in the case. He refused to comply, accusing the agency of being weaponised by the BJP to go after political opponents. Finally, after more than a dozen ignored notices, last week the directorate sent police officers to Kejriwal’s house with a warrant, arresting him that night. The courts have since allowed them to keep him in custody till at least 1 April.

There has been a loud chorus from the BJP calling for Kejriwal to resign. Many believe efforts will be made to keep him in jail for as long as possible. His party has said he will not bow to pressure and Kejriwal has vowed to continue governing the capital from prison and fight the general election.

“If the BJP thinks that they can finish the Aam Aadmi party and threaten the entire opposition by arresting Arvind Kejriwal, then they are wrong,” said Gopal Rai, a Delhi government minister, after the arrest. “Arvind Kejriwal is not a person, he is an ideology.”

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Israel-Hamas war latest: Three countries reject US-sponsored Gaza ceasefire resolution in Security Council vote

A US-sponsored resolution calling for "the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire" in Gaza has failed to pass in the UN Security Council.

Wednesday 27 March 2024 12:31, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• US-sponsored draft resolution on Gaza ceasefire fails to pass
• China and Russia accused of having 'deeply cynical reasons' for vetoing vote US ceasefire call
• Blinken arrives in Israel for difficult talks
• 'Eight people killed' in airstrike east of Rafah
• James Matthews:  Resolution never looked like passing, but it's not a day without significance 

That's all for today, but we'll be back soon with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Israel’s military has said it has opened an investigation into an airstrike that appears to have killed five Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip. 

Aerial footage of the episode circulating on social media shows four men walking along a dirt road before they are hit in the strike. 

A fifth man is then hit as he tries to run away. 

The origin of the footage remains unclear. 

But in a statement Friday, the army said the airstrike had occurred in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis - a focus of army operations against Hamas - in early February. 

It said the video was being investigated by its "fact finding" body tasked with investigating potential crimes by its forces. 

US secretary of state Antony Blinken's visit to Israel – following the vetoes on the US's ceasefire resolution - was awkward timing.

America made its point but ultimately its language – albeit strengthened in the last few weeks – wasn't strong enough for others.

The Biden administration has been losing its patience with Benjamin Netanyahu of late, most notably because of concerns Israel is not allowing enough humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans to launch a ground offensive in Rafah – Mr Blinken made it clear the White House doesn't think that is the right course of action.

Mr Netanyahu though has posted on social media today saying they will go it alone if they have to.

I'm not convinced they will – I suspect a compromise will be found that keeps the US on side.

Diplomatic work has been going on behind the scenes between the US and Israel for a plan to enter Rafah that would be palatable, crucially without the potential for a further significant loss of life there.

An Israeli delegation is heading to the US next week to discuss that very matter.

It is Israel's strong belief that if they don't go into Rafah, they won't have finished the job of eliminating Hamas. In military terms, that is logical.

However the concern is the fate of more than a million people who are in the city, so the US wants a plan that would safeguard them, and if what the vice president said today "there is nowhere safe for them to go" then the US administration isn't convinced there is any viable solution.

Meanwhile, talks are ongoing in Qatar between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire deal. Some gaps remain between the two sides, but things seem to be heading in the right direction.

Here's the moment Russia and China, two permanent members of the UN Security Council, voted against the proposal - defeating the US-sponsored resolution which called for the "imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire". Algeria also voted against the resolution.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has been speaking in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

He said they discussed the "imperative" of sustaining humanitarian aid to Gaza but focused on hostage negotiations during this trip.

Speaking before he departed Israel, Mr Blinken warned that a proposed Rafah offensive "risks killing more civilians".

He added: "It risks wreaking greater havoc with the humanitarian assistance. It risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardising its long-term security and standing,"

He said the US was "intensely engaged" in ceasefire talks in Doha which were also ongoing today.

The secretary of state also added that the UN resolution was "cynically vetoed" by Russia and China.

Mr Blinken greeted demonstrators in Tel Aviv who are demanding Israel focus on the release of hostages held by Hamas, promising the protesters that he was working to bring them home.

Several dozen people, including some family members of hostages, gathered outside a Tel Aviv hotel where Mr Blinken's delegation was based.

More on the talks in Israel this afternoon. 

The country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told Antony Blinken that Israel is prepared to continue its war against Hamas alone, amid tense relations between the two allies over the six-month-old conflict.

In a one-on-one meeting, Mr Netanyahu said he told Mr Blinken he appreciated US support in its fight against Hamas and that Israel recognises it needs to protect civilians. 

However, he reiterated plans to push into Rafah, against the territory's southern border fence, where more than one million people have taken refuge in makeshift shelters. 

"I also said that we have no way to defeat Hamas without going into Rafah and eliminating the rest of the battalions there. 

"I told him that I hope we will do it with the support of the US, but if we have to - we will do it alone," he said in a video statement to reporters.

Israel claims Rafah is the last bastion for Hamas militants and has a plan to evacuate civilians. 

But Washington says a ground assault would be a "mistake" and cause too much harm to those displaced there.

The US vice president Kamala Harris has said there is no safe exit from Rafah for civilians - where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to send troops as Washington presses for more humanitarian aid. 

"There is nowhere for these people to go and be safe,” Ms Harris told reporters as she departed for a trip to Puerto Rico and Florida. 

It comes after the UN Security Council did not pass a US-sponsored resolution that called for "the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire" in Gaza.

There is no world crisis grave enough to forge unity at the UN, one that reaches beyond the political dynamic of vested interest.

It was never looking like the resolution would pass, not since the Russians had taunted the Americans over their loose language - the "imperative" around an immediate ceasefire. 

As the Russians put it, an imperative to put our $100 in our pocket doesn't mean there's $100 in our pocket.

There are solid arguments behind the Russia/China/Algeria veto. To state that Joe Biden has domestic political difficulties created by the US stance is to state a fact.

The US ambassador had other words for it - audacity and hypocrisy on the part of Russia. 

Not for the first time in the UN building in mid-town Manhattan, the interests of the people of Gaza and a growing catastrophe suddenly felt a long way away.

So no resolution, but it's not a day without significance. 

America has shifted its position on a ceasefire and, incrementally, increased pressure on Israel.

As important as discussions were around the Security Council table, the more immediate impact, practically, is always going to come from talks in Qatar on an actual ceasefire and actual hostage release.

It's a form of words presented to players at the UN that will resonate with the key players in Qatar. 

All 27 European Union leaders released a statement overnight calling “for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance". 

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said the EU position is largely in line with that of the United States.

EU countries have long been divided over their support for Israel and the Palestinians - in December, two EU members voted against calling for "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" while four countries abstained. 

The British ambassador to the UN said she was "deeply disappointed that Russia and China were unable to support this council".

"Through this resolution, the Security Council would have, rightly and for the first time, unequivocally condemned armed Hamas terrorist attacks," Dame Barbara Woodward said.

"We are disappointed that the council was not able to send this important message.

"We welcome the patient and constructive consultation by the United States on this text."

She added: "For our part, we will continue to do everything we can to get aid into Gaza as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.

"But an immediate stop in the fighting is the only way to get aid into Gaza that is so desperately needed and make progress towards a permanent, sustainable ceasefire."

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