(Fotolia)

A major manhunt in Birmingham, England, netted a suspect just hours after a 16-year-old girl was fatally stabbed on a bus during morning rush hour Thursday.

Police said the driver of the bus reported around 7:30 a.m. that a passenger had been wounded.

Officers "flooded" the scene, West Midlands police said in a news release.

Police and other passengers tried to resuscitate the girl, who has been identified as Christina Edkins.

"Despite valiant efforts to save the teen it was clear that this was a fatal attack," Det. Supt. Richard Baker said.

Police spoke to what they called "a large number" of witnesses at the scene, and made mass appeals for information that would lead them to the perpetrator.

Later in the day they said a man matching the description of the suspect was spotted "acting suspiciously" and, following a short foot chase, the 22-year-old was arrested and is being held on suspicion of murder.

Police vowed to maintain "a high police presence" throughout the city, particularly on buses and in schools, to provide reassurance.