Suspected refugees detained

Australian coastguards have intercepted a boat carrying 194 suspected refugees in the Indian Ocean north of Australia.

It is the largest group to enter Australian waters in a recent wave that has seen 15 boats of asylum seekers detained this year.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said the vessel was sighted on Friday by a surveillance aircraft and intercepted today by a Navy ship operating under the control of the Border Protection Command, about 23 nautical miles north-west of Christmas Island.