Two boats carring asylum seekers intercepted by Australian customs

Australian customs said on Friday that two asylum seeker boats have been intercepted in northern Australian waters within two days.

The second boat was stopped 10 nautical miles north of Ashmore Island on Thursday night at 8.37 p.m. (AEST).

Initial indications were the boat was carrying 54 asylum seekers and three crew, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said on Friday.

HMAS Maryborough members boarded that vessel only 25 hours after it was involved in the interception of another entry vessel 127 nautical miles south-west of Ashmore Island.

The first boat, intercepted on Wednesday night, was carrying 28 asylum seekers and two crew.

The passengers will be taken to Christmas Island for health, security and identity checks to confirm their nationalities.

In April, the government announced it would suspend the applications of Sri Lankan asylum seekers for three months and delay by six months the processing for people from Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua