The agency has not previously given such a clear statement about the origin of the virus.
The US Central Intelligence Service CIA stated on Saturday that the coronavirus is more likely to have spread from a Chinese laboratory than via animals.
The CIA has previously said it does not have enough information to determine which theory is more likely. The new assessment comes just days after the US Senate confirmed a new director of the CIA of John Ratcliffe.
President of the United States Donald Trump nominated Ratcliffe as CIA director nominee in November. Ratcliffe is a former Director of National Intelligence and a member of the House of Representatives.
News channel CNN’s according to Ratcliffe, he is among those who believe the virus originated from research conducted in China. He has said that he will take finding out the origin of the coronavirus as his first task at the head of the CIA.
A CIA spokesman stressed in a statement Saturday that the agency is still evaluating new credible intelligence reports or information that could change its assessments.
Sources: AFP, STT, CNN