Top Greek industrialist abducted

Athens: A prominent Greek industrialist was abducted late on Monday by unknown assailants and authorities have called in anti-terrorist police to investigate, Greek police said.

George Milonas, 49, the chairman of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece and chief executive of the Greek aluminium company, Alumil, was taken from outside his home at gunpoint shortly before midnight.

"His wife was with him at the time, but she was not harmed," a police official said.

Kidnappings in Greece are rare but the country suffered a spate of assassinations of businessmen and diplomats from 1975 to 2003, mostly the work of the now-dismantled extreme leftist November 17 urban guerrilla group.

Car abandoned

Milonas's three assailants were carrying automatic weapons and his car was found abandoned about three kilometres (1.9 miles) from his house in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.

"All possibilities are being investigated. We have not been contacted by the kidnappers [nor] heard of any demands, but we can confirm that we have called in the anti-terrorist unit to assist in the investigation," the official said.

Road blocks have also been set up throughout the city and across northern Greece.