Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

British spies investigate Wuhan coronavirus lab leak claim - UK wades into Covid row

British spies investigate Wuhan coronavirus lab leak claim - UK wades into Covid row

BRITAIN is backing the US in its bid to determine the true origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Joe Biden ordered US officials to “redouble” their investigation into how Covid-19 emerged. The virus was first reported in late 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Chinese officials insist it emerged naturally and was passed to humans by animals.

However, some scientists suspect it may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, a senior Whitehall official confirmed UK intelligence officers were helping investigate the virus’s origins.

They said: “We are contributing what intelligence we have on Wuhan, as well as offering to help the Americans to corroborate and analyse any intelligence they have that we can assist with.

Coronavirus was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan

China insists coronavirus developed naturally


“What is required to establish the truth behind the coronavirus outbreak is well-sourced intelligence rather than informed analysis, and that is difficult to come by.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) did conduct an investigation in 2020, which backed the animals-to-humans hypothesis.

However, critics claim China was not transparent and withheld vital data from the WHO’s team.

Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, said the origins of Covid-19 have become an “intelligence issue” for the UK.

Critics suggest Covid-19 may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology


He said British security services could “incentivise” Chinese defectors to reveal what they know about the virus.

Sir Richard commented: “It seems to me there has been absolutely no scientific debate.

“The Chinese made an assertion without any explanation and that the majority of the scientific community seem to accept it at face value.

“It's clear that they've run an information operation to try and suppress any other view.

"If it did come out of the lab it raises all sorts of questions about virological research" 

Inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology


“If it did come out of the lab it raises all sorts of questions about virological research, and the mere fact this has happened and disrupted all the world's economy, what does that say to an aggressive malign regime who might want to go mucking around with a virus.”

Chinese officials insist coronavirus did develop naturally passing from animals, such as bats or pangolins, to humans.

They have rejected the suggestion it originated in a laboratory as a conspiracy theory.

However, a new report, which is due to be published in the Quarterly Review of Biophysics Discovery, said the virus has “no credible natural ancestor”.

The UK recorded another ten coronavirus deaths on Friday


The authors, Professor Angus Dalgleish and Dr Birger Sørensen, concluded it is “beyond reasonable doubt” Covid-19 originated in a laboratory.

A copy of the report, obtained by the Daily Mail, concluded the virus was likely the result of “laboratory manipulation” during scientific research.

They said: “A natural virus pandemic would be expected to mutate gradually and become more infectious but less pathogenic which is what many expected with the COVID-19 pandemic but which does not appear to have happened.

“The implication of our historical reconstruction, we posit now beyond reasonable doubt, of the purposively manipulated chimeric virus SARS-CoV-2 makes it imperative to reconsider what types of Gain of Function experiments it is morally acceptable to undertake.

Coronavirus has killed more than three million people across the world


“Because of wide social impact, these decisions cannot be left to research scientists alone.”

Coronavirus has killed at least 3.5 million people worldwide, though the real figure is likely to be considerably higher.”

The Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics Discovery is an open access journal published by Cambridge University Press using 'open peer reviews'.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×