CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Forty-two Afghan men who were aboard an asylum-seeking ship when it blew up will be allowed into Australia, officials in Canberra say.
Immigration officials said Monday they would grant refugee status to the men, who survived an April blast on the ship SIEV 36 as it was being escorted by the Australian Navy, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Five passengers were killed and dozens injured in the explosion, which is still being investigated by Northern Territory Police. The Australian broadcaster said it is believed that if any of the Afghans are found culpable of serious charges in the blast they will be deported.
NT police have not charged anyone in the incident, but have determined that at least one asylum seeker aboard the ship intentionally set a fire before the explosion rocked the vessel.
"It is unknown whether the person or persons responsible for the fire intended to cause the explosion that resulted in the loss of five lives," NT Assistant Commissioner Mark McAdie told the broadcaster.
