Schoolgirl, 16, is stabbed to death on top deck of early
morning bus as police launch huge hunt for ‘extremely
dangerous’ male suspect
- ‘Sporadic’ attack happened at 7.37am in Hagley Road, Birmingham
- Suspect described as a black man in his late teens or early 20s
- Wearing a dark top with a tiger or leopard motif on the back
- Public warned not to approach him as he may still be carrying weapons
- A man was detained in city centre, but was released without being arrested
- Girl has been identified and her family informed of her death
PUBLISHED: 09:30, 7 March 2013 | UPDATED: 13:10, 7 March 2013
A 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death in a ‘sporadic and very quick’ attack as she travelled to school on a busy bus in Birmingham city centre.
She was attacked on the top deck of the number 9 First West Midlands service as it pulled into a stop on the Hagley Road at 7.37am, just a few minutes after she had boarded.
Officers and paramedics rushed to the scene after the bus driver reported that a passenger had been wounded.
Despite frantic efforts to resuscitate her, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
A huge manhunt has been launched for the killer, who police have described as ‘extremely dangerous’ and may still be carrying weapons.
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Rush-hour horror: Police and paramedics at the scene in Hagley Road, Birmingham, where a schoolgirl was stabbed to death on a bus this morning
Investigation underway: Police surround the bus, where the girl was reportedly attacked by a male friend
Tragedy: West Midlands Police said they have identified the victim’s family and are in the process of breaking the sad news
Tragedy: West Midlands Police said they have identified the victim’s family and are in the process of breaking the sad news
Detective Superintendent Richard Baker, of West Midlands Police, said they were looking for a black man in late teens or early 20s who was wearing a black hoodie with a tiger or leopard motif on the back.
Det Supt Baker said he also had either a white bandage around his right hand or was carrying a small white bag.
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He said it was not known whether the suspect knew the victim.
The bus was driven from the scene, with the body still in-situ just before midday and and the Hagley Road was then re-opened.
Around three hours after the attack, a man was detained and spoken in Lower Temple Street in the centre of the city, but was released without being arrested.
West Midlands Police said the girl had been identified and officers have broken the tragic news of her death to her family.
Scouring the scene: A forensics officer gathers clues on board the 9 National Express West Midlands bus
Collecting evidence: A police officer removes an item from the scene of the fatal stabbing
Building a case: Officers and paramedics rushed to the scene after a member of the public dialled 999 claiming to have witnessed the stabbing
Probe: Forensics experts load evidence into a van as a manhunt got underway to find the killer
Location: The girl was attacked as the bus pulled into a stop on the Hagley Road near the Five Ways roundabout leading out of the city towards Stourbridge, West Midlands
Traffic backed up into the city centre as police closed off the busy Hagley Road out of the city.
Shocked passersby took to Facebook to speak of their horror at the incident.
Darren Bent, from Birmingham, said his wife was on the bus.
He wrote: ‘Can’t believe some guy has just stabbed and killed a school girl right in front of my missus on the number nine bus on her way to work and she had to give CPR love you xxx the guy did it as bus was about to stop and ran off.’
Stephanie Clinton added: ‘It doesn’t make you a man if you carry a knife it makes you scum. It doesn’t matter if you in a gang or not. It’s all wrong so grow up and put the knife down.’
Taking the lead: Detective Superintendent Richard Baker updates the media about the investigation
Search operation: A huge manhunt has now been launched after the killer fled the scene
Gathering clues: The Hagley Road, which is a main commuter route into the city, remains closed and is likely to remain so for the rest of today
Twitter user Mareesha wrote: ‘So the girl got stabbed by her friend?’
AustymZogs tweeted: ’15yr old Schoolgirl stabbed to death by a friend on a bus in Birmingham, UK during rush hour this morning.’
A bus user yesterday tweeted that a passenger was discovered carrying a knife on the service only yesterday.
The West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘At 7.37am today, police received a call from a member of the public reporting that a passenger had been attacked.
‘Officers and other emergency services were immediately dispatched but it was clear that nothing could be done to save the victim.
‘West Midlands Police have identified the victim’s family and are in the process of breaking the sad news.’
In vain: Emergency services were dispatched immediately, but nothing could be done to save the victim
Scene: The attack is believed to have happened during rush hour at 7.37am in Birmingham
Appeal: Witnesses to the attack are asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
A West Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘West Midlands Ambulance Service can confirm it was called this morning to a medical emergency on board a bus in Hagley Road, Edgbaston shortly after 7.35am.
‘A senior paramedic officer in a rapid response vehicle, two BASICS Emergency medics and two ambulance crews attended.
‘One person was confirmed dead at the scene. ’This is a criminal matter.’
A National Express West Midlands Travel spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that a tragic incident took place on a number nine service on the Hagley Road this morning.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of the person involved and we will offer all possible support to the police in their investigation into the matter.’
Witnesses to the attack are asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The city centre attack comes just a few months after two Big Issue sellers were stabbed to death in broad daylight in the middle of the city centre.
In May 2001, 16-year-old Rosemarie Ross was stabbed to death as she sunbathed in the sunshine in Centenary Square, Birmingham.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2289518/Birmingham-stabbing-Schoolgirl-16-killed-bus-morning-rush-hour.html#ixzz2MrMnr52U
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BBC News still haven’t said he was an enricher yet, surprise, surprise
[...] Schoolgirl, 16, is stabbed to death on top deck of early morning bus as police launch huge hunt for 'extremely dangerous' male suspect 'Sporadic' attack happened at 7.37am in Hagley Road, Birmingha… [...]