An Indian-born Author, Salman Rushdie, 75 years old was attending a lecture series at the Chautauqua Institution as a guest speaker on Friday morning when was attacked at the stage by a man, as stated by New York Police. As per the sources, he received death threats from Iran in 1980’s also. Although the motive of the attack has not been made clear yet, police have arrested a suspect named Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old man from Fairview, New Jersey. During the incident, interviewer Henry Reese who is the co-founder of the City of Asylum, a residency program for writers in exile, was on stage with Rushdie during the attack.
Rushdie was transported to a local hospital by helicopter with injuries on the neck and chest police said. Furthermore, Rushdie’s agent has notified that he had undergone surgery and was on a ventilator Friday night, with a damaged liver, severed nerves in his arm and that he could lose an eye, according to The Associated Press whereas the interviewer, Henry Reese, was treated at a local hospital for a minor head injury and has since been released.
Chautauqua Institution President Michael Hill said security needs for events should be taken seriously as this kind of incident could spread fear and hate among people.
