The fiancee of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has described him as a "great man" and said she was moved by the thousands of tributes after he was hacked to death in the street.
Aimee West spoke as a minute's silence was held near the flower and British flag-bedecked spot where the 25-year-old was attacked by two suspected Islamic extremists, who have since been arrested. The event marked by members of the public in Woolwich, south-east London, was followed by applause.
She said: "I am devastated by the loss of Lee who was a loving fiance. I am extremely proud of him and I am moved by all the flowers and tributes, and that he has been remembered by the nation as the great man that he was. I ask that mine and my family's privacy is respected during this difficult time."
Ms West had recently begun a relationship with the 25-year-old after he had separated from his wife, Rebecca Rigby, the mother of his two-year-old son.
Detectives investigating Drummer Rigby's murder have appealed for witnesses to send them all their camera phone footage or other images of the incident as it was confirmed that the soldier died from multiple stab wounds.
An inquest into his death is due to open at Southwark Coroner's Court tomorrow.
In Scotland, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill pledged that police and politicians would fight extremism "on all sides".
He said he was "horrified" by the killing, which was "rightly condemned by everyone in Scotland with a sense of humanity".
Mr MacAskill has met with the Muslim Council of Scotland and will hold talks with leading figures from the Muslim community tonight at Annandale Street mosque in Edinburgh.
He said: "I met with the Muslim Council of Scotland last week which was horrified, as we all were, by the events which took place in Woolwich, and I was delighted to be invited to the Annandale Street mosque. The Muslim community is an intrinsic part of our cultural heritage and it is crucial that we recognise the vital contribution they make."
Meanwhile, the row over the so-called "snooper's charter" has intensified after Defence Secretary Philip Hammond insisted that a new law to access email and social media records would help prevent terrorists causing more mayhem and murder.
Home Secretary Theresa May indicated she hopes to resurrect the Communications Data Bill after it was blocked on civil rights grounds by Nick Clegg.
l A Muslim group will hold a minute's silence in memory of Lee Rigby at a fund-raising 5K fun run/walk for Yorkhill Children's Charity and the New Children's Hospital in Glasgow this weekend. The event is organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Scotland.
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