Sweden to investigate handling of migrant crisis

Jun 7, 6:38 AM EDT

Sweden to investigate handling of migrant crisis

STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Sweden has launched a commission to analyze government agencies' response to last year's record influx of 163,000 asylum-seekers.

Interior Minister Anders Ygeman on Tuesday said the purpose is to "learn from what happened" and improve the ability of authorities to deal with a similar situation.

After Germany, Sweden was the top destination for asylum-seekers entering Europe last year, with almost 80,000 arriving in October and November alone.

The government took measures to stem the flow in late 2015 and early 2016, including by introducing border checks designed to stop undocumented migrants from entering Sweden from Denmark and Germany.

Since then the number of new arrivals has dropped sharply.

The commission is to present its findings no later than Feb. 28, 2017.

Santa Cruz Sentinel - Associated Press