A man shot by police - sparking the riots which have hit London for several nights - died of a single gunshot wound to the chest,

A man shot by police - sparking the riots which have hit London for several nights - died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, an inquest has heard.
Mark Duggan, 29, was killed by armed officers last Thursday in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, north London, after they stopped the minicab he was in to carry out an arrest as part of a pre-planned operation.

An inquest, opened at North London Coroner's Court in High Barnet, heard that the father of four died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

He was pronounced dead at 6.41pm on Thursday evening.

Colin Sparrow, deputy senior investigator for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), told the brief hearing that their "complex investigation" could take four to six months.

Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London Andrew Walker adjourned the hearing to December 12 when a pre-inquest review will be held.

Mr Walker told members of Mr Duggan's family, including his fiancee Semone Wilson: "Can I just offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Mark Duggan.

"As members of the family will know, in due course there will be an inquest touching the death of Mark Duggan and this is the first stage in that process.

"Of course, as well as offering our deepest sympathies to members of the family, I would like to reassure members of the family that we will be working closely with the IPCC throughout the process.