Two asylum seeker boats intercepted

Two suspected asylum seeker boats have been intercepted off the northwest of Western
Australia.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said patrol boat HMAS Armidale, operating
under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a vessel west of the
Lacepede Islands.
The vessel was initially identified by a Dash 8 surveillance aircraft. Initial
indications suggested it carried 26 passengers.
Mr O'Connor said patrol boat HMAS Wollongong, also operating under the control of
Border Protection Command, intercepted the second vessel northwest of Christmas
Island.
Initial indications suggest 48 passengers were on board.
Mr O'Connor said both groups would be transferred to Christmas Island for security,
identity and health checks and determination of their reasons for travel.
"While their nationalities are yet to be confirmed, if these asylum seekers are Sri
Lankans or Afghans, the processing suspension introduced by the government on April
9, 2010 will apply," he said in a statement.



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