Berlin  - A 12-year-old German girl was in critical condition in a Berlin hospital Thursday after a bomb planted in her family's letter-box exploded, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The police murder squad declined comment on media reports that the attack Wednesday may have been part of a feud in the poor, multi-ethnic capital-city district of Neukoelln.

Newspapers said the schoolgirl's arm was almost shredded by the explosion as she was taking mail out of the box. Earlier in the day her father had found a bomb attached to his car, disarmed it and took it to police.

Police said they were examining the bomb and fragments in a forensic laboratory and were seeking one or more suspects. (dpa)