Austria investigates “Havana syndrome” cases reported by US envoy Reuters

VIENNA (Reuters)-The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that Austria is cooperating with US authorities to find out the truth about a series of suspected cases of “Havana Syndrome” by US diplomats in Vienna.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken said last month that his country is conducting a government review to investigate who or what caused it to suspect a “directed” radio frequency attack on American diplomats, leading to various neurological diseases. , And first appeared in the Cuban capital in 2016.

The New Yorker magazine said on Friday that since President Joe Biden took office in January, approximately 22 American intelligence officials, diplomats and other officials stationed in Vienna have reported symptoms similar to Havana syndrome, making it the only The second largest hot spot after Havana. .

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a brief statement: “We take these reports very seriously, and based on our role as the host country, we are cooperating with the US authorities to investigate this matter.”

“The safety of diplomats and their families in Vienna is of utmost importance to us.”

A spokesperson for the State Department said that the United States is “actively investigating” cases affecting US officials in the US Embassy in Vienna.

Vienna used to be the center of the Cold War conspiracy, home to several United Nations agencies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which means that major powers such as the United States and Russia usually have three ambassadors and a large diplomatic presence there.

This has long made Vienna a center of diplomacy and espionage, as many spies operate under diplomatic cover.

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website lists 158 American diplomats currently stationed in Vienna.