London hacking victim namedSTORY HIGHLIGHTS

Drummer Lee "Riggers" Rigby, 25, was a machine gunner who became a recruiter
"He was a real character" in the infantry, his commanding officer says
As a drummer, he stood outside the Royal Palaces
He was also the father of a 2-year-old son, Jack
(CNN) -- The British soldier slain in a gruesome cleaver attack in London was a well-liked infantryman and machine gunner who served in Afghanistan and Cyprus, and then became a military recruiter and ceremonial drummer outside the Royal Palaces, the military said Thursday.

Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was part of the Regimental Recruiting Team in London, and as a machine gunner, he was part of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

The Fusiliers, an infantry group, are known for the hackle, or feather plume, in their military headdress.

The victim killed in a cleaver attack Wednesday was identified as Drummer Lee Rigby of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The brutal killing of Rigby shocked the United Kingdom, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying the act appears to have been a terrorist attack. A police officer stands with flowers in a hail storm on Thursday, May 23, close to the crime scene in front of Woolwich Barracks in southeast London. A man contemplates at a scene where flowers lay, outside Woolwich Barracks in London. Flowers lie outside Woolwich Barracks on May 23. Soldiers walk outside Woolwich Barracks on Thursday, May 23, near where the soldier was killed. Notes and shirts sit outside Woolwich Barracks on May 23. The slain soldier was wearing a "Help for Heroes" shirt when he was killed. British soldiers stand guard outside the barracks on May 23. Members of the far-right English Defence League wear balaclavas as they gather outside a pub in Woolwich on Wednesday, May 22. EDL supporters confront police in Woolwich on May 22. EDL leader Tommy Robinson joins supporters at the crime scene on May 22. A police officer guards a tent that's been set up at the crime scene as investigations continue late May 22. Mary Warder brings flowers to the scene of the crime on May 22 to pay respects to the victim. Men place flowers near the scene on John Wilson Street. A police officer guards a blocked-off area in Woolwich on May 22. A general view of Woolwich Barracks, near the scene in Woolwich. Police officers block off a road in Woolwich. Forensic officers investigate the crime scene on May 22. Police walk to the scene in Woolwich on May 22. A still frame from video shows a man outside the Woolwich Barracks in London holding a cleaver and addressing the camera directly, moments after a serving soldier was hacked to death in the street on Wednesday, May 22. The man in the video swore "by almighty Allah" to keep fighting. British Prime David Cameron called the attack terrorism. Britain's prime Minister David Cameron addresses media representatives at 10 Downing Street in London on May 23, 2013, a day after a soldier who was hacked to death in a London street by two suspected Islamist extremists. Photos: Attack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonPhotos: Attack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonAttack in Southeast LondonPhotos: Attack in Southeast LondonHIDE CAPTION<<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 >>>
Photos: Attack in Southeast London

Fears of backlash in London Rigby had a 2-year-old son, Jack, the UK Ministry of Defense said.

Witness: Attackers 'were just animals'

Fellow soldiers described him as having an engaging personality. He joined the army in 2006 and acquired the nickname "Riggers" in his platoon.

"He was a real character within the Second Fusiliers," Lt. Col. Jim Taylor, commanding officer of the 2nd Fusiliers, said in a statement. "Larger than life, he was at the heart of our Corps of Drums. An experienced and talented side drummer and machine gunner, he was a true warrior and served with distinction in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus."

Rigby also loved soccer's Manchester United, soldiers said.

"He was one of the Battalion's great characters, always smiling and always ready to brighten the mood with his fellow Fusiliers," Warrant Officer Ned Miller of the 2nd Fusiliers said in a statement. "He was easily identified whilst on parade by the huge smile on his face and how proud he was to be a member of the Drums. He would always stop for a chat just to tell me Manchester United would win the league again."

Rigby was born in Crumpsall, Manchester.

After joining the army, his first post was in Cyprus as a machine gunner in Dhekelia, the military said.

In 2008, he was assigned to Hounslow, West London, and became "an integral member of the Corps of Drums throughout the Battalion's time on public duties, the highlight of which was being a part of the Household Division's Beating the Retreat -- a real honour for a line infantry Corps of Drums," the ministry said.

London attack mirrors plot to behead Muslim soldier

In 2009, he deployed on operations "for the first time," sent to Afghanistan's Helmand province, where he was a member of a fire support group at Patrol Base Woqab.

He then returned to the UK and completed a second tour of public duties. Later, he followed the battalion to Celle, Germany.

In 2011, he became a recruiter at the Regimental Headquarters in the Tower of London.

London attack: Terrorist targeting soldiers at home again?

Rigby "was a cheeky and humorous man, always there with a joke to brighten the mood; he was an extremely popular member of the Fire Support Group," said Capt. Alan Williamson, who was Rigby's platoon commander from 2010 to 2011.

Rigby's death has attracted worldwide attention because the slaying scene was captured on a cell phone camera. A man with bloodied hands, holding a meat cleaver and a knife, carried out the killing because, he said to the camera, "Muslims are dying daily."

That man, Michael Adebolajo, and a second person are under arrest. They are being treated in London hospitals for injuries suffered in a confrontation with armed police at the scene, in southeast London's Woolwich neighborhood.

Two other people were also arrested Thursday, London's Metropolitan Police said. Authorities have not released the identities of the other three.