CHAUTAUQUA: Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was stabbed in the neck on Friday as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.
An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and stab Rushdie “10-15 times” as he was being introduced. The author was taken or fell to the floor, and the man was restrained.
Author Salman Rushdie stabbed on stage at a New York event , reports AP.
Author Salman Rushdie, stabbed at an event in New York State on Friday, suffered “10 to 15” blows in the attack, eyewitnesses said. One of them said she thought it was “a stunt” at first.
“This guy ran on to platform and started pounding on Mr Rushdie,” said Rabbi Charles Savenor, who was in the audience for the lecture at Chautauqua Institution, about 100 km from the city.
Later, the New York Police released a statement saying that Rushdie was stabbed in the neck.
“A male suspect ran up onto stage at a speaking event & attacked Salman Rushdie & an interviewer at 11 am (local time), today in Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua. Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to his neck & was transported by helicopter to a hospital,” the police said.
