Germany’s foreign intelligence agency (BND) reportedly gathered compelling evidence early in the pandemic suggesting Covid-19 originated from a laboratory. However, according to an investigation by Die Zeit and Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), Berlin opted to bury the information, fearing diplomatic fallout and the risk of being wrong.
In early 2020, the BND deployed a team of specialists to probe the virus’s origins, honing in on Chinese government agencies and scientific institutions—especially the Wuhan lab. What they uncovered was nothing short of explosive. The team reportedly obtained documents detailing coronavirus experiments, along with a collection of unpublished studies from 2019 and 2020. Among the most alarming findings? Research into how coronaviruses affect the human brain.
According to Die Zeit, this trove of material suggested that Wuhan scientists possessed an unusual depth of knowledge about the virus long before the outbreak became public. A team of BND analysts, led by a virologist, cross-checked the documents against publicly available research and intelligence from other nations. Their verdict? With an estimated 80-95% certainty, they concluded that Covid-19 “likely originated in a Chinese laboratory,” possibly due to a safety lapse.
Despite the significance of these findings, former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration wasn’t convinced. Rather than risk a geopolitical crisis, Berlin chose to keep the report classified—not even the World Health Organization (WHO) or the German parliament were informed. The current government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also dismissed the intelligence as inconclusive and initially upheld the decision to suppress it.
It wasn’t until late 2024 that the BND was finally permitted to share its conclusions—albeit selectively—with the CIA and a small group of scientists. In January 2025, the CIA issued its own assessment, stating with “low confidence” that a lab leak was the likely origin of Covid-19. Meanwhile, Beijing has consistently rejected such claims, while an alternative theory suggests the virus emerged naturally from animal-to-human transmission.
After SZ and Die Zeit published their findings, Berlin faced mounting pressure. In response, the government pledged to share the BND’s report with both the German parliament and the WHO, while also promising to release certain scientific materials to the public at a later date.
With new revelations coming to light, the question remains: What else is still hidden behind closed doors?
