Two journalists chased by neo-Nazis

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.