12 passengers and two crew have been taken into detention.
The Immigration Minister Chris Evans has confirmed that a group of people caught illegally in Australian waters last week are from the Middle East.
[However no one is illegal especially a refugee.]
Yesterday, the Australian Navy intercepted a second boat carrying 17 people at an off-shore oil production facility off Australia's North West Coast.
Senator Evans says it is not yet known what country that group is from and whether they are seeking asylum.
However, he says 12 people that were taken to Christmas Island last week are from Afghanistan and Iran.
Two crew members were from Indonesia, he said.
"I haven't ruled out the possibility that these two boats may have been launched by the one people smuggling syndicate, " he said.
"We don't know as yet, but certainly I'm of the view that there may be a connection between the two.
Quote: What about the view that Australia could have created the problem by invading the Middle East.
Related:
Govt attacked on 'asylum' boat issue
Amnesty International: deeply concerned with the government's policy of taking boat people to Christmas Island. Human rights groups have attacked the federal government over its treatment of a group of suspected asylum seekers intercepted en route to Australia.
Christmas Island like a prison: Amnesty
Our refugee coordinator Graham Thom, along with our national director Claire Mallinson and board vice president Jim Sharp, has just visited the new Christmas Island detention centre.
Three civilians killed in botched raid
AUSTRALIAN special forces troops in Afghanistan have accidentally killed a district governor and two of his bodyguards in a botched raid that will pose a further setback to the [war against indigenous afghanistanis.]
AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter
An Afghan woman who lost family members weeps after air strikes on Friday in Azizabad district of Shindand August 23, 2008. An UN investigation suggested that 60 children were killed in the airstrike. Australian troops are not restoring peace in Afghanistan but working for oil company profits, amongst other things.
Austraila detained Afghans in 'dog pens'
Australian special forces troops detained suspected Taliban militants [or indigenous Afganistanis] in "dog pens" in actions which have prompted a protest from the Afghan ambassador.
Detention centre staff 'cracked'
There were 62 cases of mental illness among former guards at the Woomera and Baxter detention centres in South Australia.
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