The British soldier killed by suspected Islamist terrorists on a south-east London street last week was first run over by them before being attacked with a cleaver and a knife, a British court heard today.
The inquest into the death of Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was opened and adjourned at Southwark Coroner's Court here today.
The police also made a further arrest in the case increasing the total number of people to be arrested to 11.
"On Wednesday May 22, at approximately 2.20 pm (BST), Lee was returning to barracks after a day working at the Tower of London.
"As he walked into Artillery Place (a road in Woolwich), a vehicle is seen to swerve into the carriageway on which he was walking and strike him.
"The two occupants of the vehicle then exit the vehicle and attack him with a cleaver and a knife," Detective Chief Inspector Grant Mallon of Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command told the hearing.
They then dragged his lifeless body into the middle of the road, and encouraged passers-by to look at what they had done, he added.
Mallon said the soldier suffered "extensive and serious injuries" and investigations were continuing into those responsible.
Security at the court was beefed up for the inquest, which will seek to establish the circumstances of Rigby's death without apportioning blame.
Following the brief hearing today, it was adjourned to a date yet to be confirmed as a result of ongoing police investigations.
The coroner's office said that Lee Rigby was identified through his dental records.
