W. German officials doubt KGB role in papal attack

West Germany security authorities cast serious doubts on reports that Western intelligence suspects the Soviet KGB of inspiring the attempted killing of Pope John Paul II.

The federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, West Germany's counterintelligence and antiterrorists agency, said allegations in British news media about a Soviet role in the attack were viewed as speculation. British newspapers and television reported last week that the Vatican was convinced the Soviet secret service had a hand in the attack, with the aim of silencing the Pope at a sensitive time in the Polish crisis.

The Vatican and Italian officials have said repeatedly they have no evidence supporting KGB involvement.