Salman Rushdie reveals he may never speak at public events again after frenzied knife attack

Sir Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born British author, has opened up about the aftermath of the attack he endured in New York last year. Speaking to the BBC, the 76-year-old Booker Prize-winner revealed that he has been plagued by "crazy dreams" and is uncertain if he will ever speak at an open public event again.

In August 2022, Sir Salman was repeatedly stabbed while on stage at a literary festival at the Chautauqua Institute in New York state, resulting in the loss of vision in one eye. The alleged attacker, 25-year-old Hadi Matar, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault charges.

Despite the ordeal, Sir Salman expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and affection he received following the incident. He compared the response to the threats he faced in 1989 after the publication of his novel "The Satanic Verses," noting that there was a stark difference in the level of support he received.

Describing surving the attack, he said: “First of all I feel very lucky, I discovered what a lucky person I am. Then there was this huge outpouring of support and affection and that was incredibly moving to feel – to be on the receiving end of that.

“And it’s a little strange as the moment when these threats began in 1989, frankly there wasn’t so much of an outpouring of affection – there was quite a lot of the other thing.”

Sir Salman admitted to being "in two minds" about his alleged attacker, stating that part of him wants to confront him in court while another part cannot be bothered. He emphasised the importance of moving forward and continuing with life.

The author revealed that he is currently writing about the incident, acknowledging the significant impact it has had on his life. He described the incident