The former head of the Comancheros motorcycle gang has been seriously injured in a car bomb explosion in Athens.

Amad ‘Jay’ Malkoun, who has lived in the Greek capital for the past two years, tried to start his Mercedes-Benz sedan in a parking lot outside a gym in the upmarket suburb of Glyfada when the blast occurred on Friday morning, local media reports.

Sources say a witness helped the 56-year-old from the wreckage and he was taken to the Asklipieio General Hospital in the nearby suburb of Voula.

A Hellenic Police spokesman confirmed to ABC News the victim had suffered injuries to his hands and legs but they were not life-threatening.

The Mercedes-Benz, which police said had Australian licence plates, was destroyed in the blast, which started a fire that damaged several nearby vehicles.

Police speculate it was a targeted incident and believe the case has links to “organised crime”.

“We have the feeling he has a problem with another guy,” the police source said.

Greek Security Forces are leading the investigation and are believed to be trying to get in touch with Australian officials.

Malkoun, a convicted drug trafficker and former president of the Comancheros, left Melbourne for Dubai in 2013 before moving to Thailand and eventually settling in Greece.

-ABC