German Intelligence Saw Wuhan Lab Leak as Likely in 2020

Germany's foreign intelligence agency, BND, assessed in 2020 that there was an 80-90% chance Covid-19 accidentally leaked from a Wuhan lab, reports Die Zeit and Sueddeutsche Zeitung. The unpublished assessment suggested the Wuhan Institute of Virology conducted experiments to enhance virus transmissibility. While China denied the claim, citing a WHO investigation, the BND found possible safety violations. The findings were shared with the CIA in 2023. In January, the CIA also leaned toward a lab origin but with "low confidence." The Covid-19 origin remains debated, with no scientific consensus.