Writer/ author Salman Rushdie has been fatally attacked during an event in New York. During the program, Salman Rushdie was attacked with a knife on the stage. The attacker also punched Salman Rushdie. 75 year old Salman Rushdie was supposed to lecture at this event. Salman Rushdie, who was injured in the attack, was immediately taken to the hospital. The attacker has been taken into custody. New York police said they are investigating the attack on author Salman Rushdie ahead of a speech event at the Chautauqua Institute. Around 11 p.m a suspect came on stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer. Rushdie was stabbed in the neck after which he was airlifted to the hospital.
The interviewer has suffered a minor head injury. The suspect was taken into custody. New York Governor Cathy Hochul said she was alive and had been taken to a safe place. The event moderator was also attacked. He is getting the necessary care at a local hospital. Many celebrities have expressed concern by tweeting about the attack on Salman Rushdie. Writer Taslima Nasreen tweeted, "I just heard that Salman Rushdie was attacked in New York. I am really shocked. I never thought this would happen. He has been living in the West and has protected him since 1989. If they are attacked then anyone who criticizes Islam can be attacked. I am worried." Karl Levan, an eyewitness, tweeted that there was an attempt to kill Salman Rushdie. Rushdie was stabbed several times before the attacker was caught by security forces. Some members from among the audience then went on stage.
Salman Rushdie, a British citizen of Indian origin, has been living in America for the last 20 years. Salman Rushdie has faced threats regarding his book 'The Satanic Verses'. This book has been banned in Iran since 1988 because it has been accused of blasphemy against Islam. A reward was also placed on his head by the top Iranian leader. His first novel came in 1975. He also received the Booker Prize for his Midnight's Children (1981). Midnight's Children is a novel about modern India. He has remained out of the public eye after the controversy over his fourth book, The Satanic Verses (1988). However, despite the threats, Salman Rushdie wrote several novels in the 1990s. In 2007, he was awarded the title of 'Sir' by Queen Elizabeth II of England for his services to literature.