Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- Gunmen shot dead a Swedish journalist in broad daylight in the Afghan capital Tuesday , underscoring a growing insecurity threatening the country 's elections next month . The Swedish embassy identified the victim as radio correspondent Nils Horner . Swedish Radio said Horner was shot on a street near a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul , the same site where a bomb went off in January . He was doing interviews at the time ahead of elections scheduled for next month . He was shot in the back of the head , and pronounced dead at a Kabul hospital . An Afghan police statement said the journalist , who had been traveling in a car with his interpreter and driver , had arrived in the city just days before . It said police were questioning his driver and interpreter . `` Nils was one of our absolute best and most experienced correspondents and what has happened to him today is terrible . We are now trying to get as many details as we can , '' Swedish Radio 's Director-General Cilla BenkÃ¶ said in a statement , describing this as one of the worst days in the corporation 's history . `` We know there are high-risk areas . Kabul is n't an area Swedish Radio should not cover . '' Horner , 51 , had traveled across Asia for his work , covering the 2001 fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan , the 2004 tsunami in Asia and the Iraq war . `` Among Swedish journalists , Nils was a legend . He was famous for always being on the road , going from country to country , from hotel to hotel . For many years he did n't even have an apartment , '' said Johan Nylander , a Swedish journalist based in Hong Kong . `` For him , interviewing people from the Indian slum was as interesting and important as visiting the Japanese parliament . He gave a voice to the people that did n't have one , and brought life to the forgotten corners of Asia , '' Nylander said . `` In a way , he died as he lived - in the middle of a news story . '' `` Everyone in Sweden will remember him as the voice coming out of Asia , '' said fellow journalist Per Liljas , who was with Horner just before he departed for Kabul . He was known for always being in the right place at the right time , he said . `` Sometimes it felt like he was there before things happened , '' Liljas said . He described his friend as humble , kind and considerate , saying he was `` a huge role model '' for younger journalists . The attack comes as Afghanistan prepares for the withdrawal of NATO forces and landmark presidential elections scheduled for April 5 . The Taliban have threatened to attack anyone who takes part . Afghan troops , supported by NATO , are helping secure the elections .
NEW : Colleague describes killed journalist Nils Horner as `` a legend '' Gunmen kill the Afghan radio correspondent in the Swedish capital . Taliban was shot near a Lebanese restaurant in Afghanistan . Police say the journalist had arrived in the city two days before .