“For some time now, the threats against journalists in this country have become increasingly intense and dangerous. Especially from the anti-vaccination and Corona denialists, there are now almost daily verbal attacks and incitements to hatred and violence against media workers,” the letter reads.

The message in particular referred to an incident that took place on Monday 3 January, where a photographer for Tageblatt was verbally assaulted and disturbed while taking pictures of an anti-vaccine protest. The Luxembourg newspapers has on several occasions identified and called out prominent persons of the anti-vaccine/conspiracy theory movement, making its journalists a particular target for threats in Telegram group chats.

In another instance, an RTL-journalist was sent death threats via Telegram, the preferred communication canal of anti-covid conspirators. Pictures of weapons followed by messages inciting to violence against media have also appeared in those groupchats, as the ALJP notes. It cites the message of one such person: "This post (...) has made my radicalisation level boil over. Now the fun is over. If the opportunity arises, I will take action against every one of these agitators (meaning journalists) with everything I have acquired." To which the person had added a photograph containing an entire case of guns. 

Following the increase in threats, the journalist association asks that all legal, juristic and political means be used to fight them. Journalists who have been the target of such messages and behaviours are also invited to send an e-mail to the ALJP at .

The DP party on the same day  to discuss the freedom of press in the context of the covid-19 pandemic.