Chinese scientist Liu Zunyong tried to bring toxic fungus into US, FBI says
A Chinese scientist entered the US last year with a toxic fungus stashed in his backpack, federal authorities said on Tuesday as they filed charges against him and a girlfriend who worked in a lab at the University of Michigan.
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The pathogen is known as Fusarium graminearum, which can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice and sicken livestock and people, the FBI said in a court filing in Detroit.
The FBI said a scientific journal describes it as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon'.
Liu Zunyong, 34, and Jian Yunqing, 33, were charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud.
'The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party, are of the gravest national security concerns,' U..Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jnr said.
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Jian appeared in court and was returned to jail to await a bond hearing on Thursday. A lawyer who was assigned only for her initial appearance declined to comment.
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