ASSASSINATION OF SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Records Related to the Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 07109126
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2025
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2025
• Publication Date: June 17, 1968

APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 S .3b In Reply, Please Refer to File No. � UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 ASSASSINATION OF SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA June 17, 1968 tory P.eview , NLJ ZZ t* A United Press International release on June 13, 1968, indicated an unidentified Arab Government had passed "new and startling" information to American officials rela- tive to Sirhan Bishara Sirhan. It is reported by corres- pondent John Kimche in the London Evening Standard that Sirhan had traveled in the Middle East in 1964 for seven Ilonths. He allegedly returned to the Middle East in 1966 spending five months in Cairo, Egypt, before returning to the United States in the beginning of 1967. A Reuters dispatch on June 13, 1968,additionally reported that this individual's full name, according to Kimche, was Sirhan Bishara Sirhan Abu Khatar. This indi- vidual, according to the dispatch, was first brought to the United States in 1928 when he was four years old. He was lkllegedly married upon a return to the Middle East on June 27, 1957, to Leila Ussef Mikhael at Es Salt, Jordan. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service show that Sirhan Bishara Sirhan entered the United States on January 12, 1957. His date of birth was given as March 19, 1944, Jerusalem, Jordan. Investigation by our Los Angeles Office reveals lie took up residence with his family in Pasadena, California, immediately upon his entry into the United States attending the Pasadena city schools until graduation from the John Muir High School in June, 1963. Thereafter he attended Pasadena City College until May of 1965. Investigation reveals that during 1964 Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was attending school and employed at 4wo Pasadena, California, service stations. Investigation further indicates that during 1966 he was continuously in the Pasadena, California, area. � ASSASSINATION OF SENATOR ROBERT F. KE DY In addition, each of Sirhan's four brothers was interviewed by Special Agents of the Los Angeles Office of the FBI on June 13, 1968, at which time they advised Sirhan has never left the United States since his arrival in 1957. They pointed out that the word Abu Khatar, meaning "is the father of Khatar," is a term not used by Christians and that the Sirhan family is Christian. The Department of State has advised that it has received no communication from any country in the Middle 4ast relative to the aforementioned matter. According to ihe Department of State, information was received from the American Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, to the effect that a United Press International correspondent had reportedly talked with Sirhan's father in Jordan who stated that to his knowledge Sirhan never married and the other details contained in the original story of June 13, 1968, are highly improbable. � According to the Department of State an attempt was made by that agency in London to contact Jon, also known as John, Kimche with whom this story originated. Kimche re- fused to identify his source but reiterated his source is usually reliable. According to the Department of State he seemed unimpressed by the possibility this might be a simple case of mistaken identity. Kimche, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, is an able, unscrupulous free lance journalist in London who apparently supports official Israeli Zionist lines in his work. The Central Intelligence Agency reports that during early 1968 there were strong protests from American Government circles in London against his articles which appeared to be aimed at destroying relations between the United States and Arab countries. �