Man suspected of stabbing Sir Salman Rushdie is charged with attempted murder

The man suspected of stabbing Sir Salman Rushdie has been charged with attempted murder.

The 75-year-old Indian-born British author was attacked and seriously wounded while appearing on stage at a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, in Chautauqua, New York on Friday (August 12). The author, who received the Booker Prize in 1981 for Midnight’s Children, sustained injuries to his eye, arm and liver in the stabbing. He currently remains in critical condition in hospital.

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Sir Salman’s agent Andrew Wylie said The Satanic Verses author is on a ventilator and unable to speak. There are also fears he may lose an eye as a result of the attack.

Following the attack, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, of Fairview, New Jersey, was transported and arraigned at Chautauqua County Jail on Saturday.

The suspected attacker has been charged with attempted murder and assault, New York state police have said. Matar is being remanded in custody without bail.

Photos taken at the scene showed Sir Salman lying on his back with his legs in the air and a first responder crouched over him. Ralph Henry Reese, who was serving as a moderator to the lecture, also suffered head injuries.

Speaking about the attack, which took place at the Major Eugene Staniszweski, of New York State Police, said late on Friday (August 12): “Earlier today at approximately 10.47am, guest speaker Salman Rushdie, aged 75, and Ralph Henry Reese, age 73, had just arrived on stage at the institution.

“Shortly thereafter, the suspect jumped on to the stage and attacked Mr Rushdie, stabbing him at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen.

“Several members of the staff at