Chinese couple charged with agroterrorism in the US

Michigan law enforcement officials have formally accused two Chinese researchers of unlawfully importing a harmful fungus into the United States. Authorities suggest that this fungus has the potential to be weaponized for agroterrorism purposes. Investigations conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicate that one of the researchers illicitly transported the Fusarium graminearum fungus into the United States to conduct research at a University of Michigan laboratory where the other researcher was employed. Fusarium graminearum is a pathogen known to cause substantial harm to crops and pose a threat to both human and animal health. It is alleged that one of the researchers received financial support from the Chinese government to research the same toxic fungus within China. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., has not yet responded to requests for comment.