Politico | US probes suspected directed-energy attack in Miami and near White House
- Previous attacks have caused varying symptoms including brain damage
- They are difficult to track and attribute with confidence due to their nature
US officials are investigating a suspected directed-energy attack on federal government personnel in Miami last year, as well as at least two other incidents involving US officials on American soil, according to people familiar with the investigation.
In Miami, several people reported symptoms similar to those exhibited by American spies and diplomats in Cuba starting in 2016 that became known as “Havana syndrome”, three people said. It was unclear which agency the people in the Miami incident belonged to.
Officials are also investigating two similar incidents – one last year involving a senior National Security Council official walking to his car from the south lawn of the White House known as the Ellipse, and another in 2019 involving a separate NSC official walking a dog in Alexandria, Virginia, the people said.
The effort is part of a broader investigation into suspected directed-energy attacks against Americans around the world, which became so alarming to US officials that the Pentagon began a probe last year.
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The attacks, which have caused varying symptoms including brain damage, are difficult to track and attribute with confidence due to their nature. The devices involved can be small and portable, and the symptoms can appear similar to other illnesses.
