Police in southeast Athens are hunting for a group of individuals who attempted to abduct a shipowner on Thursday afternoon. According to police, the unsuccessful kidnapping too place at 3.30pm on Vouliagmenis avenue when two cars attempted to block a vehicle being driven by Andreas-Ioannis "Kikos" Martinos (33).

The two vehicles had reportedly began following Martinos after he left the offices of his father's Minerva Marine company.

Reports say that when four masked figures emerged from the car that had blocked the path of Martinos' car, he reversed into the other vehicle behind him, which burst into flames.

Martinos then managed to escape in his vehicle. He subsequently alerted the police to what happened. When they arrived on the scene, they found two burning vehicles.

An investigation is underway.

Andreas-Ioannis Martinos is the son of prominent shipowner Andreas Martinos, one of three brothers involved in shipping who together control more than 100 ships including tankers, dry bulk carriers, containerships and liquefied natural gas carrier newbuilds on order.

A first cousin of his, Georgia Martinou, is an MP with the New Democracy party.