Greek police say former prime minister Lucas Papademos has been injured in a bomb attack in central Athens.

An explosive device hidden inside an envelope detonated inside the car, leaving the 69-year-old wounded.

Authorities said the incident on Thursday left Mr Papademos with non-life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to Evangelismos Hospital with his driver and another passenger, who were also wounded.

Mr Papademos suffered abdominal and leg injuries and was undergoing surgery, state news agency ANA said.

Former Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos seen here in 2012 preparing to cast his vote in Greece's general elections (Getty)

Doctors were also concerned about his eyesight, police said.

Separate reports suggested the ex-premier suffered breathing difficulties following the attack.

There was no initial indication of which person or group was behind the blast.

However, Greek security has intercepted several attempted attacks on Greek, German and International Monetary Fund officials over the past two months.

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 centre in Athens, including some addressed to the IMF in Paris and the German Finance Ministry.

The rigged package to the IMF exploded, injuring a postal employee.

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The explosion happened on the corner 3rd September Street and Marni in the centre of the Greek capital.

Photos showed a damaged black Mercedes car with the airbags inflated. A police cordon was in place.

The former vice president of the European Central Bank served as prime minister of Greece for six months in 2011-2012.

He was appointed as a caretaker leader to keep Greece in the eurozone and was succeeded by Panagiotis Pikrammenos.