Sir Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked 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 punch or stab Sir Salman as he was being introduced.
New York police have since said that Indian-British author Sir Salman, 75, has suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck and has been airlifted to hospital. The state police department has issued a statement confirming a male suspect ran onto the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and attacked Sir Salman and an interviewer.
The statement said: "State police are investigating an attack on author Salman Rushdie prior to a speaking event at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. On August 12, 2022, at about 11am, a male suspect ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer.
