Reports from German media indicate that the BND, Germany's foreign intelligence service, believed there was an 80-90% likelihood that the coronavirus escaped from a Chinese laboratory, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This assessment, conducted in 2020, was kept from the public until now, raising questions about the origins of the pandemic amid ongoing debates between scientific communities.
### German Intelligence Agency Believed Lab Leak More Likely as Covid-19 Origin
### German Intelligence Agency Believed Lab Leak More Likely as Covid-19 Origin
Germany's spy agency assessed a high chance Covid-19 leaked from a lab, as reports reveal hidden 2020 evaluations.
Germany's foreign intelligence agency, known as the BND, reportedly concluded in 2020 that there was an 80-90% probability the coronavirus leaked accidentally from a Chinese lab. Newly uncovered details revealed that these assessments were part of a secret operation dubbed Project Saaremaa, conducted at the time when Angela Merkel was chancellor.
The BND noted that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been modifying viruses to enhance their transmissibility to humans, leading to concerns over violation of safety protocols at the facility. Despite these revelations, China continues to deny a lab leak, insisting that a scientific approach is critical for determining the origins of the virus and referring to a WHO investigation that deemed the lab-leak theory "extremely unlikely."
The controversy remains as various scientific communities worldwide present conflicting theories about Covid-19's origin. At the start, most accepted the natural origin hypothesis, suggesting the virus jumped from bats to humans through other animals. However, as more time passed without finding a matching virus strain in animals, doubts arose about this theory. The World Health Organization's investigation in early 2021 concluded that the lab-leak scenario should not be prioritized, a determination that has faced increasing skepticism.
Following the BND’s findings, the CIA also suggested that a "research-related origin" of the pandemic is now more likely than a natural cause. Yet both agencies have stated that definitive proof remains elusive, leaving the debate over the coronavirus's origins open and heated.
The BND noted that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been modifying viruses to enhance their transmissibility to humans, leading to concerns over violation of safety protocols at the facility. Despite these revelations, China continues to deny a lab leak, insisting that a scientific approach is critical for determining the origins of the virus and referring to a WHO investigation that deemed the lab-leak theory "extremely unlikely."
The controversy remains as various scientific communities worldwide present conflicting theories about Covid-19's origin. At the start, most accepted the natural origin hypothesis, suggesting the virus jumped from bats to humans through other animals. However, as more time passed without finding a matching virus strain in animals, doubts arose about this theory. The World Health Organization's investigation in early 2021 concluded that the lab-leak scenario should not be prioritized, a determination that has faced increasing skepticism.
Following the BND’s findings, the CIA also suggested that a "research-related origin" of the pandemic is now more likely than a natural cause. Yet both agencies have stated that definitive proof remains elusive, leaving the debate over the coronavirus's origins open and heated.
