Author Salman Rushdie off Ventilation, Talking; State Police Charge Suspect in Stabbing Attack
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Salman Rushdie, an author whose work has generated death threats in the past, suffered serious injuries but has been taken off a ventilation and is able to talk after he was attacked and stabbed on stage before giving a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution on Friday.
New York State Police identified the suspect in the attack as Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, N.J.
Matar ran up onto the stage and stabbed Rushdie in the neck and chest around 10:47 a.m. Friday.
Rushdie was then taken by helicopter to UPMC Hamot.
The other speaker at the event - Ralph Reese, 73 - suffered a minor head injury.
Chautauqua Institution staff and guests went on stage to hold down the suspect before a trooper assigned to the event went on stage and arrested Matar, according to State Police.
The incident prompted a heavy police and security presence outside the Erie hospital where Rushdie was taken for surgery.
Rushdie, 75, suffered a damaged liver and severed nerves in an arm and an eye, his agent Andrew Wylie said Friday evening. However, he was taken off a ventilator and able to talk Saturday.
READ MORE: Agent: Rushdie off ventilator and talking, day after attack »
A Chautauqua County deputy had an explosive detection K9 the cleared a bag the suspect had.
Police are in the process of obtaining search warrants for a backpack and electronic devices.
Chautauqua Institution has canceled all programs at Chautauqua and Jamestown for Friday following the attack.
It released the following statement on social media:
Chautauqua Institution hosted a community vigil at its Hall of Philosophy Friday evening where its president Michael Hill spoke. There were also prayers, reflection and music.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reacted to the attack during a news conference Friday morning.
Salman Rushdie was the subject of controversy in 1989, when Iran's Supreme Leader, the late Ayatollah Khomeini, publicly called for his assassination over his book "The Satantic Verses," which some called blasphemous to Muslims.
Khomeini issued a religious decree, calling for Rushdie's death and offered a $3 million dollar bounty, which led to the author receiving continued death threats for decades, even to this day.
READ MORE: Why Author & Advocate Salman Rushdie Has $3 Million Bounty »
