News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The police shooting victim whose death sparked the riots did not fire at officers before he was killed, ballistic tests indicate.

There is "no evidence" that a handgun found at the scene where Mark Duggan was killed by armed officers was used, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

The 29-year-old's death, after receiving a gunshot wound to the chest last Thursday, was a trigger for the first night's rioting in Tottenham on Saturday.

Mr Duggan's death came after two shots were fired by a Scotland Yard CO19 firearms officer, investigations show.

The initial results confirmed reports that a bullet found lodged in a police radio at the scene was police issue.

Forensic officers have told the IPCC that it may not be possible to "say for certain" whether the handgun found near Mr Duggan was fired.

But an IPCC statement said: "At this stage there is no evidence that the handgun found at the scene was fired during the incident."

The IPCC said investigation into the circumstances of the shooting were continuing with a CCTV trawl of the area.

Mr Duggan was a passenger in a silver Toyota Estima people carrier minicab in Ferry Lane, close to Tottenham Hale Tube station, which was believed to have been stopped by police.

A non-police issue handgun, converted from a blank-firing pistol to one that shoots live rounds, was recovered close to the scene of Mr Duggan's death.

The bullet lodged in the police radio is a "jacketed round" - a police-issue bullet consistent with being fired from a force Heckler and Koch MP5, the IPCC said.

Mr Duggan died at the scene while the officer whose radio was hit was taken to hospital and discharged after examination. The firearm found at the scene was a converted "Bruni" self-loading pistol.

The IPCC said the weapon was "not a replica".

The handgun was found to have a "bulleted cartridge" in the magazine, which is being subjected to further tests.

Scotland Yard appealed for calm in the wake of the results as the force said "we appreciate that it is frustrating" for people to have to wait for the outcome of the investigation.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to appeal for calm. Mr Duggan's family have publicly stated that they do not in any way condone the violence we have witnessed on the streets of London. There can be no excuses for this behaviour," a statement said.

Rachel Cerfontyne, the IPCC commissioner, also defended the need for a full and thorough inquiry.

"I also have a responsibility to balance the need to provide information with the need to avoid adversely affecting other judicial and coronial processes," she said.

"This means that it would not be appropriate for me to put all the information we receive into the public domain when we receive it. I assure you that our findings will be made public as soon as we can legally and legitimately do so."

An inquest into his death, which opened this morning at North London Coroner's Court in High Barnet, heard the father of four died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at 6.41pm on Thursday.

Colin Sparrow, of the 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.

After the hearing, Mr Duggan's family said they were deeply distressed by the disorder in the wake of his death.

In a statement on their behalf, Helen Shaw, from the organisation Inquest, said: "We come to the opening of the inquest today. The investigation is ongoing and we want to establish the truth.

"The family want everyone to know that the disorder going on has nothing to do with finding out what has happened to Mark.

"They also want people to know they are deeply distressed by the disorder affecting communities across the country."