The kidnappers of the shipping tycoon Pericles Panagopoulos asked for a 40 million Euro ransom. The man was abducted yesterday morning from in front of his house in the sea suburb Kavouri. The criminals told the amount to his driver, when they left him behind tied a little bit after the kidnapping. The kidnappers were three, they were wearing hoods and masks, carrying Kalashnikov and talking in perfect Greek. Greek police continues to believe that they are regular criminals but do not exclude the possibility that they are connected with one of the Leftist terrorist organizations in the country.

Panagopoulos’ colleagues say that he since last fall the man has received four or five phone threats. Despite the warnings to be careful, Pericles Panagopoulos did not want special security. It is not the first time that he receives phone threats, it has happened years ago as well. During 2003 he himself found a explosive device under his car, which was parked in front of his house in Kavouri. The device was later deactivated by the police.

Panagopoulos’ family is very worries because the kidnapped has bone cancer and needs to take several types of medicines every day. Discontinuing taking the medicines can be fatal for his life. The businessman has lived through several surgeries and has to keep a specific diet in order for his health not to get worse. The abducted was preparing to leave for the US in the next few days, in order to go under surgery.