AUTHOR OF THE SATANIC VERSES, SALMAN RUSHDIE STABBED ONSTAGE DURING A SPEECH (VIDEO)

Fri 12 August 2022:

Author of Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie was stabbed in the neck while speaking on stage at an event in New York state because of the death threats his writing received.

The British author of Indian descent was flown by helicopter to the hospital, but his current health status is unknown.

The 75-year-old was about to give a lecture when a man stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and began attacking Salman as he was being introduced, according to an AP reporter who was there.

The novelist, who also has US citizenship, was taken or fell to the floor, and the suspect was restrained. He is now in custody.

Authorities said the interviewer at the event suffered a minor head injury after also being attacked.

Salman Rushdie: Satanic Verses author ‘suffered apparent stab wound to neck’ at event in New York#SalmanRushdie pic.twitter.com/QRxRVjkRhe

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) August 12, 2022

Salman Rushdie: Satanic Verses author ‘suffered apparent stab wound to neck’ at event in New York#SalmanRushdie pic.twitter.com/kZTel9BHcB

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) August 12, 2022

“At about 11am, a male suspect ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer. Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital.” State police said in a statement

A reporter for the news agency The Associated Press, who was present at the scene, revealed horrific details. The reporter said that the attacker “punched or stabbed Mr Rushdie 10 to 15 times”.

Salman Rushdie: Satanic Verses author ‘suffered apparent stab wound to neck’ at event in New York#SalmanRushdie pic.twitter.com/iPGQBnVPt3

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) August 12, 2022

Reuters quoted a witness, who asked not to be named, as saying that the author fell to the floor when the man attacked him. After that, he was surrounded by a small group of people who held up his legs. It appeared that they wanted to send more blood to his upper body.

Rushdie’s current situation is unknown but Andrew Wylie, who is a spokesperson for the novelist, said in an emailed statement that “Salman is in surgery.” But Wylie did not give further details to share.

A video posted online showed a number of people rushing on stage in the aftermath as Salman was tended to.

His book, The Satanic Verses, has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous.

The Middle East country also offered a bounty of more than $3m for anyone who kills Rushdie.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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