Salman Rushdie stabbed in neck, suffered head injury: New York Police

Author Salman Rushdie, whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was stabbed on Friday as he was about to deliver a lecture in western New York's Chautauqua institute. Rushdie, 75, was stabbed as he was being introduced on stage.

According to New York Police, the assailant ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer. Video footage from the event showed people rushing to Rushdie's aid.

A small group of people surrounded the author, holding up his legs, presumably to send more blood to his chest, AP reported.

The 75-year-old author has been airlifted to the hospital and the attacker is currently in police custody.

Author Salman Rushdie stabbed. Senior journalist Gurmeet Sodhi brings you the details.#SalmanRushdie #NewYork @PoojaShali pic.twitter.com/3QaU96bmLh — IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) August 12, 2022

"Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital. His condition is not yet known. The interviewer suffered a minor head injury. A state trooper assigned to the event immediately took the suspect into custody," the New York Police said in a statement.

Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, "Our thoughts are with Salman Rushdie and his loved ones following this horrific event. I have directed the state police to further assist however needed in the investigation."

Hundreds of people who gathered at the Chautauqua institute were evacuated following the attack on Rushdie.

Salman Rushdie rose to prominence with his Booker Prize-winning 1981 novel “Midnight’s Children,” but his name became known around the world after The Satanic Verses. The book has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous.

Video footage from the event shows people rushing to Rushdie's aid after he was stabbed by a man. @gauravcsawant brings you the details#SalmanRushdie #NewYork @PoojaShali pic.twitter.com/hpfZGN6wbV — IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) August 12, 2022

Later, Iran’s late leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death.

Indian-born Rushdie has lived in the US for the past 20 years. After the controversy over his fourth book, The Satanic Verses, he remained out of the public eye, mostly living in the UK. Despite the threats, he produced several novels throughout the 1990s.

Rushdie had launched a strong defence of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo after its staff were gunned down by Islamists in Paris in 2015. The magazine had published drawings of Prophet that drew sharp reactions from Muslims worldwide.

Salman Rushdie attacked: What we know so far

• Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed in the neck during an event in western New York
• He was given immediate medical aid and has been airlifted to a local hospital
• The attacker is under police custody and the motive behind the attack is not known yet