Australian customs intercept 200 asylum seekers in 24 hours

Two boats carrying more than 200 asylum seekers have been intercepted by border protection units off the West Australian coast, federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said on Thursday. A defense Orion AP-3C surveillance aircraft on Wednesday night went to aid boat carrying 110 passengers and four crews at north east of Chrismas Island. The second boat was intercepted at the north of Christmas Island early on Thursday by customs ship. It was believed that 103 passengers and two crew were on board. O'Connor said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority was involved in the issue of two asylum boats. "Border Protection Command will now make arrangements for the passengers to be transferred to Christmas Island, where they will undergo initial security, health and identity checks and their reasons for travel will be established," he said in a statement. O'Connor admitted that the new arrivals will put more pressure on Australia's detention center network, adding that after the appropriate checks had been done, there are large number of people awaiting processing would be released into the community. Earlier on Tuesday the federal government released a report showing that overcrowding problem leads to recent riots at asylum seekers detention center, made 48 recommendations to improve security at overcrowded detention center.