ATHENS (Reuters) - A former Greek prime minister was injured when a booby-trapped package exploded in his car in central Athens on Thursday in the worst act of violence targeting politicians in the crisis-hit country for several years.

A police officer secures the area around the car of former Greek prime minister and former central bank chief Lucas Papademos following the detonation of an envelope injuring him and his driver, in Athens, Greece, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Lucas Papademos, who served a brief stint as caretaker prime minister in late 2011 to mid-2012, did not have life threatening injuries, authorities said. An Athens hospital source told Reuters he was being treated for superficial wounds to his abdomen and a slightly deeper injury to his right leg.

Papademos, 69, a former central banker who held a senior role in the European Central Bank, was hurt when the package he opened in his car exploded.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Greece has a history of small-scale attacks against politicians, businesses and police.

A Greek urban guerilla group is thought to have dispatched a batch of letter bombs addressed to European public figures and discovered by Greek authorities in March.

But Thursday’s blast, in which a hospital official said two others in the vehicle were also hurt, was the most prominent since a booby-trapped package killed a guard for the then public order minister, Michalis Chrysohoidis, in 2010.

Papademos, a low-key economist who is more of a technocrat than a politician, was catapulted to the forefront of Greece’s debt crisis when he was coaxed into briefly becoming caretaker prime minister from late 2011 to May 2012, fusing a fragile governing coalition between socialists and conservatives.

The country remains in recession with the highest unemployment rate in Europe, and a stalled creditor review has interrupted payouts under its international bailout program, its third since 2010.

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Papademos served as Greek central bank governor from 1994 to 2002, and as vice-president of the European Central Bank from 2002 to 2010.

ECB president Mario Draghi condemned the attack: “We are saddened by the attack against our former colleague, Lucas Papademos, a brave public servant of Greece and Europe.”

Papademos had been in retirement since stepping down as prime minister in May 2012 following elections in the country.

Footage from the scene, at a busy intersection in central Athens during rush hour, showed a black vehicle with its hazard lights on, virtually undamaged save for extensive cracks on the front windscreen.

Greek media reported the vehicle was armored, containing the blast within its interior.

“I felt my car shake ... it was like a small earthquake,” a witness told Greece’s Skai TV. “It was total panic.”

A Greek central bank source said Papademos had earlier left the Bank of Greece building when the explosion occurred.

It was unclear where the suspect package was picked up. A police source said fragments of an envelope found at the scene of the incident suggested it was addressed to the Academy of Athens, of which Papademos is president.

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An envelope containing bullets and addressed to Greece’s general secretary for public revenue was intercepted at a post office branch in Athens on Tuesday.

In March, police intercepted eight suspect packages at a postal sorting center in Athens, days after letter bombs were sent to the German Finance Ministry and the IMF in Paris. The rigged package to the IMF exploded, injuring an employee, while the one sent to Germany was detected by scanners.

A Greek militant group, Conspiracy of Fire Cells, claimed responsibility for the first suspect package sent to Germany and intercepted on March 15.</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Greek police sealed off the car after the blast

Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has been injured by an explosion inside his car in Athens.

Reports say the blast may have been caused by a letter bomb.

Mr Papademos, 69, had leg, arm and stomach injuries, but officials said his condition was "not a cause for concern". His driver was also injured - but not seriously. Reports say at least one other person in the car was hurt.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for Thursday's blast.

Mr Papademos was appointed caretaker prime minister in November 2011 amid political and economic turmoil. He served in post until May 2012.

He has also served as vice-president of the European Central Bank.

The explosion occurred at about 18:30 local time (15:30 GMT) in central Athens.

Mr Papademos and his driver, who has not been named, were then taken to Evangelismos Hospital.

Reports say the third person in the car was a banking official.

Current Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who is attending a Nato summit in Brussels, is being kept informed of the incident, Greek news agency ANA said.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Lucas Papademos took office trying to keep Greece in the eurozone

In March, a letter bomb sent from Greece exploded at the International Monetary Fund office in Paris.

The employee who opened the letter suffered hand and face injuries and staff were evacuated.

Days earlier, a parcel bomb meant for German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was intercepted and destroyed in Berlin before it could explode.

Greek far-left group Conspiracy of Fire Cells said it was responsible for sending that device</s>(ATHENS, Greece) — Greek police say former Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has been wounded in an explosion in a car in central Athens.

Authorities say the daytime left the 69-year-old Papademos with non-life-threatening injuries.

Papademos served as prime minister for six months in 2011-2012 and is a former deputy governor of the European Central Bank.

Police said two other people in the car were also wounded.

Police didn't immediately confirm news media reports that the blast was caused by a parcel bomb.</s>Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos was injured on Thursday after an explosive device went off inside his car in Athens.

According to initial reports, the former Greek PM Papademos has suffered burn injuries in his hands and legs after a bomb blast that targeted his car. Papademos assistance and his driver have also been injured in the attack.

The explosive device was hidden in an envelope inside Papademos car, according to police officials.

At the moment, there is no official confirmation whether it was a terror attack, however, the concerned authorities are monitoring the situation and taking all precautionary measures. Also so far no one has claimed the responsibility for the blast.

Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos wounded after an explosive device went off inside his car in Athens: AFP pic.twitter.com/8icSqRAJeP</s>Greek former prime minister Lucas Papademos wounded after an explosive device went off inside his car in Athens on Thursday.

Papademos, 69, opened an envelope inside his car that contained explosives, according to local media in Athens. However, police did not immediately confirm that it was a parcel bomb.Papademos was taken to the hospital and also his driver was also wounded.

However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Papademos served as prime minister for six months from 2011 to 2012 and is a former deputy governor of the European Central Bank.</s>A bomb hidden inside an envelope has exploded in Athens inside the car of the former Greek Prime Minister, Lucas Papademos.

The former Prime Minister and his driver have remained wounded and were rushed to the state hospital of Athens, where their state was reported to be non life-threatening.

Preliminary reports state that the 69-year-old Papademos had opened an envelope, inside of which there was a bomb. Papademos opened the envelope while he was travelling in his car along with his driver.

To continue reading, please click here.</s>Greek police said Thursday that former Prime Minister Lucas Papademos had been wounded in an explosion in a car in central Athens.

Authorities said the daytime attack left the 69-year-old Papademos with non-life-threatening injuries.

Papademos served as prime minister for six months in 2011-2012 and is a former deputy governor of the European Central Bank.

Police said two other people in the car were also wounded.

Police didn't immediately confirm news media reports that the blast was caused by a parcel bomb.

9:20 a.m.: This article has been updated with reports of injuries to Papadermos.

This article was originally published at 9:05 a.m.</s>ATHENS, Greece (AP) - An explosion inside a car in Greece's capital wounded former Prime Minister Lucas Papademos on Thursday, police said. His injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

The 69-year-old Papademos, who served as prime minister for six months in 2011-2012, was hospitalized and undergoing tests, officials said. Police said two other people in the car were also wounded.

Police gave no further details and didn't immediately confirm media reports that the explosion was caused by a parcel bomb that Papademos opened while inside the car.

FILE - In this May 11, 2012 file photo, Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos speaks to Greek President Karolos Papoulias during their meeting at the presidential palace in Athens. The 69-year-old Papademos, who served as prime minister for six months in 2011-2012, was wounded in an explosion in a car in central Athens on Thursday, May 25, 2017. Police say his injuries aren't life-threatening. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis, File)

"We are all in shock following this action," said Nikos Pappas, a government minister and close aide to Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras. "We condemn this appalling action without reservation and with all our heart wish Mr. Papademos the best."

Papademos is also a former deputy governor of the European Central Bank. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Greek politicians have been targeted in the past by militant far-left and anarchist groups.

Earlier this year, a group called Conspiracy Cells of Fire, claimed responsibility for sending parcel bombs to the German Finance Ministry and the Paris office of the International Monetary Fund, where a small explosion injured one person.</s>Former prime minister of Greece Lucas Papademos was wounded Thursday in an explosion in a car in central Athens, police said.

Papademos, 69, opened an envelope inside his car that contained explosives, according to local media in Athens. However, police did not immediately confirm that it was a parcel bomb.

Papademos was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. His driver also was wounded, a police official told The Telegraph.

"We are all in shock following this action," said Nikos Pappas, a government minister and close aide to Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras. "We condemn this appalling action without reservation and with all our heart wish Mr. Papademos the best."

Papademos served as prime minister for six months from 2011 to 2012 and is a former deputy governor of the European Central Bank.

Police said at least one additional person in the car also was injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Greek politicians have been targeted in the past by militant far-left and anarchist groups. Earlier this year, a group called Conspiracy Cells of Fire, claimed responsibility for sending parcel bombs to the German Finance Ministry and the Paris office of the International Monetary Fund, where a small explosion injured one person.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>Lucas Papademos, the Greek former prime minister, was hurt on Thursday when an explosive device went off inside his car in Athens, state agencies said.

State news agency ANA said Mr Papademos was undergoing surgery for abdominal and leg injuries at an Athens hospital.

State TV ERT earlier reported that he also had trouble breathing, but his life was not in danger.

Two of his guards were lightly hurt, ERT said.

"We are shocked. I wish to condemn this heinous act," Nikos Pappas, the media minister, told the station.
Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is injured when a booby-trapped package explodes inside his vehicle in Athens. Authorities report his injuries are not life threatening.