Three masked men have attempted to kidnap a key witness in Bulgaria's high-profile "Killers" case, the Bulgarian daily "24 Chassa" (24 Hours) writes.

The incident happened Monday evening, but has not been announced by the Interior Ministry. The target managed to escape, according to the publication.

The man has been identified as Boyan Dzhamalov, the second key witness of the prosecution, who claims the alleged ringleader of the "Killers," Petar Stoyanov, had taken in the city of Plovdiv BGN 60 000 in cash as a second installment to plot the murder of the Shumen businessman Rumen Rachev and of the Veliko Tarnovo lawyer, Petar Lupov.

Dzhamalov has been attacked near his home in Dolna Dikanya. He managed to get away just before the kidnappers pushed him inside their SUV, and went to the nearest police precinct where he filed a claim about the attack. Police notified the Shumen Prosecutor's Office and the anti-mafia unit in Sofia, who are probing the case.

"24 Chassa" cite their own police source saying they have placed Dzhamalov under increased security, adding the motive behind the attempted abduction had not been ransom, but pressure for the man to withdraw his testimony.

Petar Stoyanov aka the Chieftain, President of the Bulgaria Sumo Federation, is charged with the murders of Rumen Rachev, Petar Lupov, the Sofia businessman, Borislav Georgiev, and the President of the Football Club "Rilski Sportist," controversial businessman from the town of Samokov, and municipal councilman from the far-right, nationalist "Ataka" party, Yuri Galev. The "Chieftain" also faces charges of organizing a crime group to execute murders for hire.