Reports indicate Germany opted against disseminating intelligence suggesting a lab origin for the virus, fearing political repercussions.
German intelligence (BND) reportedly acquired evidence early in the pandemic pointing to a laboratory origin for Covid-19, according to reports by Die Zeit and Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) on Wednesday. The reports, citing their own investigation, state that Berlin chose to conceal this conclusion due to concerns about potential errors and the ensuing political ramifications.
According to the report, the BND deployed specialists in early 2020 to investigate the virus’s origins. Their investigation focused on Chinese government agencies and scientific institutions, including the Wuhan laboratory, where they allegedly found documents the German media described as “fascinating and explosive.”
Reportedly, the BND’s findings encompassed data from coronavirus experiments, along with a number of unpublished studies from 2019 and 2020, some of which explored the effects of coronaviruses on the human brain.
“The information suggests an unusually large amount of knowledge regarding the supposedly new virus was available in Wuhan very early on,” Die Zeit stated.
The materials were reportedly analyzed by a BND team, spearheaded by a virologist, who cross-referenced the data with publicly accessible studies and information obtained from other countries. They concluded with “80 to 95% certainty” that Covid “likely originated in a Chinese laboratory,” attributing the outbreak to a safety lapse at the Wuhan lab.
The findings were presented to then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration, which remained unconvinced and chose not to share the information with entities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the German parliament, according to reports. Allegedly, Berlin feared potential complications in relations with both Beijing and Washington.
Reportedly, the subsequent government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz also deemed the BND’s conclusions unconvincing and initially kept them confidential. It wasn’t until late 2024 that the BND was authorized to share its findings with the CIA and a select group of scientists, according to the outlets.
In January 2025, the CIA stated it believed “with low confidence” that Covid-19 likely originated in a lab. The Chinese government has consistently denied the lab-leak theory. An alternative major theory suggests that Covid-19 arose naturally, through zoonotic transmission from animals to humans.
Following inquiries from SZ and Die Zeit, Berlin announced it would share the BND’s findings with the German parliament and the WHO, and release some materials related to the agency’s scientific assessment to the public in the future.