Ex-Comanchero president seriously injured in Athens car explosion

A former Australian bikie gang president has been rushed to hospital after his car exploded in an Athens car park.

He had just left the gym where he attended the same time every day.

Amad “Jay” Malkoun, 56, is understood to have been seriously injured in the blast, Greek media reports.

Malkoun, a reported resident of Glyfada, was attempting to start the engine of his Porsche when an explosion tore through the vehicle which had Australian number plates.

The explosion may have been caused by dynamite, with a police bomb squad reportedly finding residue from an explosive device.

The blast was so severe it burned four other cars and resulted in the surrounding area being closed off.

One witness told 9News he saw the incident happen from his apartment two kilometres away.

“There was a loud explosion, a big plume of smoke, a few more loud explosive noises and then thick plumes of black smoke for some time before emergency services arrived,” he said.

“It was quite remarkable to see the whole thing unfold from start to finish while sitting on my balcony.”

Malkoun was described by police last year as an influential presence among the Australian Comancheros.

Malkoun reportedly resigned as Comanchero president back in 2013 and was living in Thailand and Dubai prior to his arrival in Greece two years ago.

Police sources claim he is currently embroiled in an internal Comanchero war with the gang's national president Mick Murray, with members aligned to either man going to war with each other in Australia.

Malkoun fled Australia in 2013, first to Thailand, then to Dubai, where he is suspected of cultivating Russian organised crime contacts.