Family tribute to murdered soldier

The family of the soldier hacked to death in Woolwich paid tribute last night to “a loving son, husband, father, brother and uncle”, adding that he always wanted to be in the army and “live life and enjoy himself”.

Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was killed by two assailants on the streets of southeast London on Wednesday.

A total of four people including the two men shot by police have now been arrested in connection with the brutal attack.

Scotland Yard said a man and a woman, both 29, were held yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and are being questioned at a police station in south London.

The two men who were shot, aged 22 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in hospital in a stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

In a statement the force said: “This is a large, complex and fast-moving investigation which continues to develop.

“Officers have recovered a number of items from the murder scene and continue to appeal for witnesses to get in touch, and send in footage and photographs of what happened.”

Earlier, tributes were paid to drummer Rigby, 25, from Crumpsall, Manchester, who had a two-year-old son. He was from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, and was attached to the Regimental Recruiting Team in London.

Sergeant Barry Ward said he was “a loving father” to his two-year-old son Jack, and had “a very bubbly character”.

Drummer Rigby, who joined the army in 2006, had served in Helmand province, Afghanistan, where he was a member of the Fire Support Group in Patrol Base Woqab.