US police have charged a man with the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, who was being treated for serious injuries in hospital after being attacked on stage during a literary event in New York state on Thursday. Six.
The Booker Prize-winning author, who has lived under the threat of death from Iran for several decades, so to speak, according to his friends. On Saturday night, author Aatish Taseer tweeted that Rushdie, 75, was “off the ventilator and talking”. This was confirmed by Andrew Wylie, Rushdie’s representative, according to the Associated Press.
Police said Rushdie suffered a stab wound to the neck and was taken to hospital by helicopter where he was operated on. In a statement to Reuters on Friday, Wylie said that Rushdie “will likely lose an eye; the nerves in his arm had been severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.”
Police identified the suspect in the attack as Hadi Matar, 24, from Fairview, New Jersey. New York State Police Major Eugene Staniszewski said there was still no indication of a possible motive for the attack.
State police said Saturday that Matar has been charged with attempted murder and assault. Matar’s court-appointed attorney told Reuters he pleaded not guilty.
Hadi Matar, 24, was charged with stabbing Rushdie and pleaded not guilty Saturday © AP
Rushdie was scheduled to speak at the Chautauqua Institute, southwest of Buffalo, in western New York state, on Friday.
“At around 11 a.m., a male suspect ran onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer,” New York police said.
US President Joe Biden on Saturday expressed shock and sadness over the Rushdie attack. “All Americans and people around the world are praying for his health and recovery.”
Books by Rushdie The verses of Satan, first published in 1988, has caused controversy over how it depicts the Islamic prophet Mohammed. The book was banned in Iran and in 1989 supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie.
After the death threat, Rushdie went into hiding. He lived with armed guards and took the alias Joseph Anton.
Additional Reuters reporting
