Late stuntman EVEL KNIEVEL was probed by the FBI over a series of violent assaults, it has emerged.

The biker was quizzed over his links to a number of attacks in the U.S. - allegations he vehemently denied at the time.

He was linked with various violent acts, usually against rivals in the stunt jumping business.

They included intimidation in Phoenix, an assault in a Kansas City hotel room and a vicious beating in San Francisco. All were allegedly carried out by associates of Knievel.

The FBI records, obtained by the Associated Press, reveals investigators came close to charging him, but failed after he threatened to sue.

Knievel died in November last year (07) at the age of 69.

In 1977 Knievel was jailed for assaulting a movie studio executive with a baseball bat.