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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Tuesday rejected media reports that Russia was involved in mysterious "attacks" against US government officials in Cuba and China.
"We have witnessed a storm of reporting on the Russian government," with this information attributed to anonymous sources, state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday. "I would warn you all to be very skeptical about these statements."
She said the State Department was still investigating attacks against US State Department employees in Cuba but has not yet reached a conclusion.
"There is no known cause, no known individual or group would be responsible," she said. "The investigation is ongoing, we have not imputed anything."
"We still consider it a health attack," she added.
NBC News reported on Tuesday that US intelligence agencies suspected Russia of conducting a bizarre series of attacks resulting in brain damage for US personnel in Cuba and China. NBC history indicates that agencies have evidence of intercepting communications collected during an ongoing investigation by the FBI, the CIA, and other US agencies.
In Cuba, US staff reported hearing strange and noisy sounds, as well as feelings of changes in atmospheric pressure in their Cuban government-owned homes and hotel rooms. Although there was no history of head trauma, the reported symptoms were consistent with brain injury. Diplomats described the sounds as "buzzing, metal grinding, screaming and buzzing".
The State Department created a panel of experts in July 2017 to examine the issue. In its initial findings, the panel stated that the symptoms were most likely related to "unnatural neurotrauma", and the department recommended further investigation.
The Center for Treatment of Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania was chosen to coordinate the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of patients. Whatever the cause, patients in Havana "have experienced a persistent disability of a significant nature," noted the team at the University of Pennsylvania.
In China last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that a US government employee posted in Guangzhou had reported "abnormal sensations of sound and pressure" suggesting a mild brain injury. Pompeo said the medical indications were "very similar" and "fully consistent" with those reported by American diplomats stationed in Havana.
In response to incidents in Cuba, the State Department initially reduced the number of workers in Havana. But last March, the sharp cuts were permanent, because of health problems. State Department officials told Congress that 26 embassy staff in Cuba had been affected by the mysterious health incidents since their first discovery in December 2016. The employee in China who had similar symptoms was known in May latest.
The Cuban government denied responsibility for the attacks and firmly rejected any allegations of misconduct.
Copyright 2017 USATODAY.com
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