Washington: New York State Police have identified the suspect who attacked Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie as 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, while the motive behind the attack is not yet known. State Police Troop Commander Major Eugene J. Stanijewski told a news conference that the attacker had been identified as Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, New Jersey. The suspect attacked Salman Rushdie at least once in the neck and once in the stomach.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul had said that writer Salman Rushdie is alive and has been taken to a safe local hospital, according to a news agency ANI. New York State Police said in a statement that writer Rushdie was stabbed in the neck and taken to a hospital by helicopter. A suspect has been taken into custody. Police said Rushdie suffered a head injury in the attack.
Significantly, Salman Rushdie had to face death threats for his book ‘The Satanic Verses’. A fatwa was also issued against him. Rushdie made headlines in 1981 with his novel ‘Midnight’s Children’. After the release of his book The Satanic Verses, a fatwa was issued by the then leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Due to this, he was forced to live in hiding for many years.
Rushdie’s suspected attacker has been identified, is there a connection with the Satanic Verses? Police trying to find out
Veteran Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar reacted to the incident and condemned this barbaric attack. Javed Akhtar tweeted and said ‘I condemn the barbaric attack on Salman Rushdie. I hope NY police and courts will take the strongest possible action against the attacker.” While UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that “Shocked to hear Sir Salman Rushdie has been stabbed, my condolences to his loved ones.” are with the people. We are all hoping that he is fine.’ Britain’s Home Minister Priti Patel said that ‘Shocked to hear about the unprovoked and senseless attack on Sir Salman Rushdie. My condolences to Sir Salman and his family.
People present during the incident said that writer Salman Rushdie was stabbed at an event, he was attacked by the assailant about 10 to 15 times with a knife or a punch. An eyewitness said that for the first time he thought it was a stunt. “The attacker ran to the stage and started beating Rushdie,” said Rabbi Charles Sevenor, who was in the audience for a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, about 100 km from the city. ? And then within seconds, it became completely clear that Salman Rushdie was under attack.
The attacker continued to attack for about 20 seconds, NDTV reported. An AP reporter said the attacker “punched or stabbed Salman Rushdie 10 to 15 times”. A woman in the audience named Kathleen Jones said the attacker was wearing black clothing with a black mask. Rushdie has a neck injury. He was being introduced to the program at that time. The people present there caught the attacker and later he was taken into custody. Rushdie was given first aid on stage.
