London soldier was hit by car before fatal stabbing

UK: The British soldier killed by suspected Islamic extremists in London last week was run over before being attacked by two men armed with a cleaver and a knife, an inquest heard on Friday.

The inquest in the brutal murder of Lee Rigby on May 22 in Woolwich, southeast London, was opened at Southwark Coroner's Court in the capital before being adjourned.

Later Friday, Queen Elizabeth II was to visit the barracks in Woolwich where Rigby was based, in a trip arranged before his death.

None of Rigby's family attended the opening of the inquest, but they issued a statement calling for calm following a rise in community tensions after his death.

"Lee would not want people to use his name as an excuse to carry out attacks against others," they said.

The 25-year-old had to be identified by a dental expert, the court heard. A post-mortem examination had already found that he died from multiple cut and stab wounds.

"On Wednesday May 22, at approximately 2.20 pm, Lee was returning to barracks after a day working at the Tower of London," Detective Chief Inspector Grant Mallon told the hearing.

AFP