FRIENDS and colleagues have paid tribute to a loving father, Afghanistan hero and dedicated soldier who was butchered to death in a suspected terror attack.

Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, of the 2nd Battallion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, had just left Woolwich Barracks in south-east London when he was run down by a car on the pavement and hacked to death.

Two men are under armed guard in different London hospitals after police shot them during Wednesday's attack.

The suspects, believed to include Michael Adebolajo, whose rants on camera were shown around the world, were known to security services, sources have said. It is understood Mr Adebolajo, a Briton of Nigerian descent, comes from a devout Christian family but converted to Islam after leaving college in 2001.

Last night a 29-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested in south London on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Searches were made at three properties in south London, one in east London, one in north London and a detached house in Saxilby, Lincolnshire, the previous home of the Adebolajo family.

Police were guarding the 25-year-old victim's home in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

Two hours after the identification of the soldier, who was father to a two-and-a-half-year-old son, more than 50 tribute pages had sprung up on Facebook. One launched yesterday before he was identified has 1.2 million likes.

Drummer Rigby, a life-long Manchester United fan, was known to his comrades as Riggers, and was described as a popular and very bubbly character. He was "one of the battalion's great characters, always smiling", friends said.

His family said he was a loving son, husband, father, brother and uncle, adding that "he always wanted to be in the Army, live life and enjoy himself."

Military wives, police and members of the public yesterday laid flowers near the scene in honour of the victim, who had been wearing a Help for Heroes T-shirt when he was attacked.

One note left said simply: "So sorry. Our thoughts are with your family, friends and comrades."

Many of the tributes to the soldier, who stood outside the Royal Palaces as part of his battalion's public duties commitment, ended with the message: "Once a Fusilier, always a Fusilier."

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor, Commanding Officer of the Second Fusiliers, described him as a "true warrior" who served with distinction in Afghanistan.

"Drummer Rigby was a dedicated and professional soldier," he said. "He was a real character within the Second Fusiliers. Larger than life, he was at the heart of our Corps of Drums."

The Ministry of Defence described him as a "loving father to his son Jack, aged two years", adding: "He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

"The regiment's thoughts and prayers are with his family during this extremely difficult time."

Warrant Officer Class 1 Ned Miller, regimental sergeant major of the Second Fusiliers, said: "Riggers is what every battalion needs. He was one of the battalion's great characters, always smiling and always ready to brighten the mood with his fellow fusiliers.

"He was an excellent drummer and well respected within the Drums platoon."

Drummer Rigby was born in 1987 in Manchester and joined the army in 2006. In April 2009 he was deployed in Afghanistan, where he served as a member of the Fire Support Group. In 2011, he took up a recruiting post in London.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is not pursuing any criminal or misconduct offences over the officers who used their weapons at the scene.