A 2-local identification of PΩ8+(3)

This paper is devoted to the proof of an identification theorem for Ω8+(2) and PΩ8+(3). The main theorem will be applied in the programme aimed at determining the almost simple groups which have parabolic characteristic 2. The proof involves a novel application of a recent theorem due to Meierfrankenfeld, Weiss and the second author which identifies Lie type groups by their residual structure.