Two people have been injured after a car hit pedestrians outside a London mosque.

Officers were called to the Oxgate Lane, Cricklewood, north west London, after reports a car collided with people at around 00.35 am on Wednesday, Scotland Yard said.

The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The force said the driver failed to stop and that officers are "keeping an open mind as to the cause of the collision".

It is not being treated as terror-related, the Met said.

The collision was "a suspected premeditated Islamphobic attack", a spokesman for The Hussaini Association, which had organised a lecture at the mosque, said.

In a statement posted on social media, the association said: "Patrons attending the annual Al Hussaini Majlis in Cricklewood were indiscriminately mown down in a suspected premeditated Islamphobic attack last night."

It said a red Nissan Juke "swerved into innocent bystanders, hitting at least 5 people of which 3 were seriously injured".

"They were heard shouting anti Islamic taunts at the crowd before they started their attack. Fortunately, a number of volunteers bravely stood between the speeding vehicle and patrons heading home. These acts of bravery potentially saved the lives of dozens of innocent people from being taken."

Scotland Yard said that just after midnight security at the Muslim community centre "were informed of occupants in a car behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs".

It added: "The occupants of the car - three males and a woman all aged in their mid-20s - were asked to leave the private car park.

"The car then drove near the centre and the occupants were involved in a confrontation with a large group of people visiting the centre.

"Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car.

"The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre. It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left.

"The car and its occupants, who failed to stop and injured three people, are being sought by police. No arrests have been made."

The two people injured, both in their 20s, suffered minor injuries, police said.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "This incident is not being treated as terror related but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor."

In its statement, a spokesman for The Hussaini Association said: "We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community but remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society and as such we remain unintimidated and encourage all to continue to attend the Majlis (gathering) of Hussein - a man who defied a tyrant to deliver a message of love, unity and patience which we remember to this day."

Taunts of "dirty Muslims" could be heard coming from the car, which contained three men and one woman, according to Hassan Naddi, head of security for The Hussaini Association.

Speaking at the scene, Chief Superintendent Simon Rose of the Metropolitan Police said: "At around half past midnight volunteer stewards challenged a small group of individuals.

"They were subjected to a tirade of Islamophobic and racist abuse and an altercation then took place.

"The people who had been challenged then drove at members of the community in a car.

"The car mounted the pavement twice and two people have been seriously hurt. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

"The vehicle then drove off and was involved in a fail-to-stop accident.

"It is being dealt with as a critical incident. It is being dealt with as an Islamophobic hate crime and it is being dealt with as a racist hate crime.

"It is not at this time being dealt with as a counter-terrorism incident, as always subject to continuous review.

"We were extremely fortunate there was no loss of life."