Soldier had to be identified by dental expert

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, and had to be identified by a dental expert, an inquest heard.

The inquest into the brutal murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London on May 22, was opened and adjourned shortly before the Queen paid a visit to the barracks where he had lived and near where he died.

The royal engagement was planned long before the attack, but the 87-year-old monarch intended to mark Mr Rigby’s death privately by meeting with some of the officers and soldiers who worked with him, a spokes- woman for Buckingham Palace said.