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fullscreen CIA’s newly appointed head John Ratcliffe is sworn in on Thursday. Ratcliffe supports the idea that the covid virus spread from a laboratory. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP/TT
The CIA changes its position on the question of the origin of covid-19.
The virus spread from a laboratory in the city of Wuhan in China, the US intelligence service said in a statement.
The CIA thus goes against its own previous assessment, namely that the virus was not genetically modified when it spread and was not processed in a laboratory – a conclusion made public in 2023.
However, the organization adds that “confidence is low” for the conclusion, which assessors say suggests the evidence is incomplete or contradictory.
The new position is not based on new information, the CIA announces. Instead of new evidence, the new position is based on new analyzes of the work of virology laboratories in China.
Previous reports on the origin of covid-19 have been divided between reports that the virus originated in a laboratory and spread, intentionally or not, and that it arose naturally, in which case probably from bats.
The CIA continues to evaluate both theories about the corona pandemic with the premise that both are possible.
– The CIA will continue to evaluate any available and credible reports or other open information that could cause the CIA to change its mind, a spokesperson told the AP.
The report on which the exchange of views is based was completed at the request of former President Joe Biden’s administration. However, it was released only two days after Donald Trump’s husband John Radcliffe succeeded Biden’s CIA chief William Burns.
Ratcliffe, who served as intelligence chief during Trump’s previous tenure in the White House, has previously said he believes the laboratory theory.
– The only theory supported by science, intelligence and common sense, he said in 2023.