Novelist Salman Rushdie, who has death threats from Iran, was allegedly stabbed on stage Friday in Chautauqua, New York.
The suspect was restrained and Rushdie was on the floor.
Video of the attack was posted on social media.
“The Satanic Verses” author has had his books banned in Iran since the 1980s, where there is a $3 million reward for anyone who kills Rushdie. Muslims consider his work blasphemous.
#SalmanRushdie just attacked onstage at @chq @NBCNews @ABC @cnnbrk pic.twitter.com/I1XT6AmkhK
— Charles Savenor (@CharlieSavenor) August 12, 2022
The suspect was detained by police and Rushdie was able to walk away with assistance, journalist Ryan Kelly tweeted.
To summarize reports:
Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed after taking stage at a Chautauqua Institute event. He received aid on-site and was able to eventually walk off stage with assistance.This man has been detained by police: pic.twitter.com/nkQSMkJt24
— Ryan Kelly (@NotThatRKelly) August 12, 2022
A witness, Ward Pautler, told The Daily Beast that Rushdie had just come out on stage when a man who was “heavy set and wearing a black headpiece” rushed the stage.
Pautler thought the man was “punching Rushdie, but then I realized he was stabbing him.”https://t.co/bP1eIqCmwS
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 12, 2022
This is a developing story.