had died or were lost at sea. 2016 January 2016 1 January: New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Germany – During the 2016 New Year's Eve celebrations, hundreds of sexual assaults, numerous thefts, and at least five rapes were reported in several German cities, mostly in Cologne city centre. The Chief Prosecutor stated that "the overwhelming majority" of suspects were asylum seekers and illegal immigrants who had recently arrived from North Africa and the Middle East. The attacks led to a hardening of attitudes against mass immigration, and fuelled debate about the sustainability of Germany's asylum policy and social differences between European and Islamic countries. The German government also proposed changing the law to make it easier to deport immigrants convicted of crimes. 4 January: Sweden introduced checks on its border with Denmark to stem the inflow of migrants. The changes mean that none may cross the border without identification, and transport companies will be fined if travellers do not have valid identification. Sweden's state-owned train operator SJ said it would stop services to and from Denmark because it could not carry out the checks needed. In response, Denmark tightened border controls with Germany. 9 January: In Cologne, about 1,700 people joined a PEGIDA demonstration in protest at the New Year's Eve assaults and called for Chancellor Angela Merkel to resign. When police tried to disperse the rally, some protesters threw missiles and police responded by firing tear gas and water cannon. Leftists held a counter-demonstration nearby. The following day, eleven immigrants were beaten by a group of vigilantes in the area where the assaults took place. 11 January: Swedish police launched an internal investigation after allegations arose that the police and journalists covered up mass sexual assaults by immigrant youths at a music festival. Shortly after, it emerged that police in Sweden would no longer be allowed to give ethnic descriptions of criminal suspects. This was to avoid pointing out immigrant groups as criminal and to avoid accusations of racism. 25 January: Death of Alexandra Mezher – A Swedish woman, Alexandra Mezher, was stabbed to death by an asylum seeker at the Mölndal refugee centre where she worked. The incident led to a marked rise in violence against immigrants and support for far-right groups. 26 January: The Danish parliament passed a law allowing the government to seize valuables from asylum seekers to pay for their upkeep. It applies to