Sweden: Two journalists chased by neo-Nazis
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 17 September 2002 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Sweden: Two journalists chased by neo-Nazis, 17 September 2002, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bc1fcc15.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 17, 2002
Reporters Without Borders today condemned the harassment of two Swedish journalists investigating neo-Nazi activities and called on the authorities to take action.
Documentary filmmaker Bjoern Lockstroem and Olof Abrahamsson, a photographer with the newspaper Kvals Posten, were covering municipal elections in the southern town of Karlskrona where candidates of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Front were standing. As they were parked near a group of neo-Nazis on 15 September, Lockstroem was recognised and the journalists were chased through the town by neo-Nazis in six cars. They managed to escape.
"Lockstroem has been threatened several times before in his reporting of illegal neo-Nazi activities," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard. "They know him and he takes a risk every time he covers their activities. We urge the authorities to be more vigilant about neo-Nazi threats against the media."
Five neo-Nazis smashed the windows of Lockstroem's house in Motala (245 km southwest of Stockholm) on 19 May. The attackers were arrested soon afterwards at a roadblock carrying clubs and teargas grenades.
