DHAKA: Australia’s immigration minister has described an incident in which an asylum-seeker sent himself on fire as ‘distressing’ but said it would not change the way the government handles refugee claims.
Scott Morrison said late on Saturday he was waiting to be briefed about the case, The Straits Times publishes this report on Sunday.
The Tamil Refugee Council told media it happened on Friday night in a Melbourne home when a 40-year-old Sri Lankan set himself on fire by pouring petrol on his legs and lighting it.
The council said the asylum-seeker, whose name was not released, had minor burns to a leg and was taken to a Melbourne hospital after his housemates intervened and put out the fire.
BDST: 1447 HRS, JUNE 22, 2014