ADELAIDE, Australia – Australia's home affairs minister says
authorities have intercepted a boat carrying 52 suspected asylum
seekers in the Indian Ocean north of Australia.
Brendan O'Connor says that Border Protection Command agents
detained the boat Friday morning near Ashmore Island, off
northwestern Australia.
He said in a statement that the 52 passengers and three crew on
board were being taken to an immigration detention center on remote
Christmas Island. Officials will assess their health and reasons
for travel.
Australia has long been a destination for asylum seekers, with
most coming from Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka. An increase in
boat arrivals in the last year has led to a political debate over
the government's immigration policies.