</s>ASSASSINATION OF UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY AMBASSADOR HOTEL, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 5, 1968 the Los Angeles Police Department as a guest at the Ambassador Hotel, and it is requested that this individual be interviewed for any information he might possess. Dieter Strand Stromar Iivanagon 60 Broma, Sweden 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
On June 5, 1968, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan assassinated Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, using a .22 caliber revolver. The shooting occurred between the hotel’s ballroom and kitchen areas, resulting in Kennedy’s death and injuries to five others. Sirhan was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and indicted for murder on June 7, 1968. The LAPD sought interviews with individuals such as Dieter Strand Stromar (Sweden), Jon Akass (London, England), and others potentially linked to the case. The FBI collaborated with the LAPD in investigating witnesses, including out-of-state hotel guests present on June 6, 1968. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office compiled a list of potential trial witnesses, categorizing them into groups based on relevance. Sirhan’s custodial conditions at the Hall of Justice were documented, and his family members, including mother Mary Siriah and brothers Munir and Adelle Sirhan, frequently visited him. Superior Court Judge Herbert V. Walker presided over the case, having previously handled high-profile trials.  

On October 10, 1968, Sirhan appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court before Judge Richard B. Schauber, represented by attorney Russell E. Parsons. His trial was initially scheduled for December 9, 1968, but motions to suppress evidence and discovery requests delayed proceedings. A hearing was set for October 14, 1968, to address these motions. The District Attorney’s Office, led by Lixin Compton, John Howard, and David Pittis, opposed delays, citing potential jury availability in late 1968 or early 1969. The FBI learned of a planned book by Dr. Mohamed Mehdi, head of the Action Committee on American-Arab Relations (ACAAAR), which criticized U.S. Jewish communities and linked them to RFK’s assassination. The book, published by Wagner’s Printers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was expected to be released soon. Barbara Bard, a journalist, informed the FBI about Mehdi’s work.  

The document outlines ACAAAR’s activities in New York City during 1967–1968, including protests against Israeli policies and planned demonstrations. It references a letter from Mehdi to Senator Robert F. Kennedy (likely a misstatement for RFK) criticizing Zionist influence and suggesting Sirhan’s actions were indirectly tied to U.S. support for Israel. Forensic analysis discussed by the FBI included neutron activation tests on bullets and biological samples to determine if metal deposits matched Sirhan’s weapon, though conclusive findings were limited without prior lab examinations. Legal filings by Parsons requested access to police statements, transcripts, reports, films, and other evidence, including interviews with witnesses like Buckner, who underwent a lie detector test by LAPD with FBI agents present. The District Attorney’s Office asserted that materials would only be disclosed through court channels.  

Key People  
- Sirhan Bishara Sirhan (assassin)  
- Robert F. Kennedy (U.S. Senator, victim)  
- Russell E. Parsons (attorney for Sirhan)  
- Lixin Compton, John Howard, David Pittis (Los Angeles County District Attorneys)  
- Dr. Mohamed Mehdi (head of ACAAAR, author of critical book on U.S.-Israel relations)  
- Barbara Bard (journalist who reported on Mehdi’s book to the FBI)  
- Judge Herbert V. Walker (Superior Court judge presiding over trial)  
- Judge Richard B. Schauber (judge overseeing Sirhan’s trial)  
- Mary Siriah, Munir Sirhan, Adelle Sirhan (Sirhan’s family members)  
- Buckner (witness subjected to lie detector test by LAPD)  

Key Locations  
- Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California (site of assassination)  
- Hall of Justice, Los Angeles, California (custodial facilities for Sirhan)  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) headquarters  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters  
- New York City (center for ACAAAR activities)  
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa (location of Wagner’s Printers, publisher of Mehdi’s book)  
- Pasadena, California (Sirhan’s mother’s home, where evidence was seized without a warrant)  

Key Events  
- Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968  
- Indictment of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan by Los Angeles County Grand Jury on June 7, 1968  
- FBI and LAPD coordination in investigating witnesses and custodial details  
- Trial scheduling for December 9, 1968, with motions to suppress evidence pending  
- Hearing on October 14, 1968, to address discovery requests and suppression motions  
- ACAAAR’s protests against Israeli policies in New York City during 1967–1968  
- Forensic analysis of bullets and biological samples by FBI to link Sirhan’s weapon to evidence  
- Lie detector test conducted on Buckner by LAPD with FBI agents present  
- Legal filings requesting access to police statements, transcripts, and other investigative materials  

Key Organizations  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office  
- Action Committee on American-Arab Relations (ACAAAR)  
- United States Secret Service (implied in context of RFK’s security)  
- Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_031_ser_948-982-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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