Britain's Metropolitan Police (MPS) confirmed on Thursday the man killed in Southeast London was a "serving soldier."

"We can confirm that the man, who died in Woolwich yesterday, is a serving soldier. In line with the wishes of his family we will not be releasing his identity at this stage," MPS said in a short statement through twitter.

The man was hacked to death by two attackers wielding knives including a meat cleaver near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich in southeast London on Wednesday afternoon.

The attackers were shot by the police arriving on the scene, and have been sent to separate hospitals for treatment, the MPS Commander Simon Letchford said.

The police have yet to release more details of the attack. Local media reports quoting government sources and witnesses said the attackers hit the victim with a car and then assaulted him with knives.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday the country would remain "resolute" against violent extremism and terror, after he cut short a visit to France and returned to London Wednesday night.

Calling the incident a "most appalling crime," Cameron said during a press conference in Paris with French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday that "there are strong indications that it is a terrorist incident."