The New York State Police disclosed this in a statement. Rushdie is the author of controversial novel Satanic Verses
A celebrated author and winner of the world's top literary prizes whose writings generated death threats, Salman Rushdie was on Friday attacked while on stage for a panel in western New York.
The New York State Police disclosed this in a statement. Rushdie is the author of controversial novel Satanic Verses
The author was airlifted to a local hospital while his condition remains unknown, the police said.
“On August 12, 2022, at about 11 a.m., a male suspect ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer," part of the statement read.
"Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital. His condition is not yet known. The interviewer suffered a minor head injury. A State Trooper assigned to the event immediately took the suspect into custody."
Rushdie's book "The Satanic Verses" forced him into hiding after it was banned in Iran and a $3 million bounty was put on his head.
The Iranian government has distanced itself from the bounty, according to the AP, but the fatwa has been continued by a semi-official religious organization, which raised the bounty to $3.3 million.
Rushdie was knighted in 2007 for his work and has been awarded many of the top literary prizes, including two Whitbread Prizes for Best Novel.
He was scheduled to sit on a panel alongside Henry Reese, president of City of Asylum in Pittsburgh, an organization that provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of persecution.