Authorities are refusing to investigate a case in which a man reported that he had been subject to a racism at work, saying that a colleague had referred to him by using the word "Negro" ("neger" in Swedish).

The incident allegedly took place in the work lunch room last year. The colleague had been sitting with the man, and one other black-skinned person and had apparently said, "Look, I'm here. I'm sitting here with two Negros," according to Swedish Radio P4 Malmö.

However, the police decided not to carry out a preliminary investigation. The prosecutor said that though the word is...