Single stab wound killed Birmingham bus attack victim Christina Edkins

A teenage girl attacked on a bus as she travelled to school died from a single stab wound to the chest, a post-mortem has revealed.

Christina Edkins, 16, was stabbed upstairs on a bus in Hagley Road in Birmingham while on her way to school in Halesowen on Thursday.

She is understood to have boarded the bus minutes before the attack, which happened at about 7.40am.

The driver raised the alarm and attempts were made to revive the teenager, but she died at the scene.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

West Midlands Police are investigating whether it was a random attack.

Police are continuing to question a 22-year-old man who was arrested near the scene of the stabbing a few hours later. They say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the killing.

The 22-year-old was arrested near the Morrisons supermarket at Five Ways at about 12.30pm.

Police have released a CCTV image of a man in a black jacket with a tiger motif on the back, and have appealed for anyone who had seen him travelling on buses in and around Birmingham on Thursday between 6am and 1pm to contact them.

The force said 16 people were travelling on the number 9 bus when the attack happened but only half of them had spoken to police.

Detective Superintendent Richard Baker, of West Midlands Police, said: “We know there are a number of passengers who were on the bus yesterday morning when Christina was attacked while she was sitting upstairs.

“Some of these passengers were sitting downstairs on the bus and they haven't yet spoken to police. They may not even have known what happened but may have vital evidence and it is crucial they contact us as soon as possible on 101.”

Police said they would be checking Christina's profiles on social media websites as part of the investigation, but there was nothing to suggest she was being targeted.

Neil Shaw, head teacher at Leasowes High School where Christina was a pupil, described her “a bright and popular student much loved by staff and students alike”.

Counsellors have been brought in to support pupils and staff. Flowers, soft toys and balloons have been left outside the school.

Police today provided extra patrols on public transport.