Salman Rushdie "alive" after attack | Top points
New York, Aug 12: Salman Rushdie, the Mumbai-born controversial author who faced Islamist death threats after writing 'The Satanic Verses', was attacked and suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck when a man stormed the stage as he was getting ready to deliver a lecture during an event here on Friday, New York Police said.
Here are the top points to know about the incident:
- 75-year-old Rushdie was stabbed by a man on stage while he was being introduced at the event of the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York.
- He fell through a barrier to the stage and was seen with blood on his hands. The audience tackled the attacker and Rushdie was then treated onstage following the assault.
- "State Police are investigating an attack on author Salman Rushdie prior to a speaking event at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. On August 12, 2022, at about 11 a.m., a male suspect ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer," New York Police said in a statement.
- "Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital. His condition is not yet known.
#Author Salman Rushdie has been stabbed on stage as he was about to give a lecture in New York.#SALMANRUSHDIE pic.twitter.com/PN0IO278WF
— Kamlesh Kumar Ojha🇮🇳 (@Kamlesh_ojha1) August 12, 2022
- The interviewer suffered a minor head injury. A State Trooper assigned to the event immediately took the suspect into custody. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene," it said.
- New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said author Salman Rushdie is "alive". "He is alive, he has been transported, airlifted to safety," Hochul said in remarks at an event on 'Preventing Gun Violence, Protecting New Yorkers'.
Salman Rushdie was taken to the hospital by medical helicopter.
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) August 12, 2022
Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed after taking stage at a Chautauqua Institute event.
This man has been detained by police.-#NYPD#SalmanRushdie #Newyork pic.twitter.com/M2xt3nicbh
-
"We're
monitoring
the
situation.
Rushdie
is
getting
the
care
he
needs
at
a
local
hospital.
I'll
be
giving
more
information
on
the
identity
of
the
perpetrator
and
the
case
that'll
be
brought
in
that
part
of
the
state,"
she
said.
-
Rushdie's
fourth
book
The
Satanic
Verses
in
1988
forced
him
into
hiding
for
nine
years.
A
year
after
the
book's
publication,
Iran's
Supreme
Leader
Ayatollah
Ruhollah
Khomeini
called
for
Rushdie's
execution
for
publishing
the
book
for
its
blasphemous
content.
- Since the 1980s, Rushdie's writing has led to death threats from Iran, which has offered a USD 3 million reward for anyone who kills him.