New York: Eminent English-language writer Salman Rushdie was attacked by a man during an event in New York City, USA on Friday. Mumbai-born and Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie (75) was about to begin his lecture during an event at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York when a man stepped onto the stage and punched Rushdie. Soon after, he attacked them with a knife. Rushdie has a neck injury. He was being introduced in the program at that time. Rushdie was given first aid on stage. According to BBC Hindi, he has also been operated on in the hospital. With this the attacker has been identified. Her name is being told as Hadi Matar.

In a video posted online, attendees can be seen running towards the stage soon after the incident. It is being said that the people present there caught the attacker. After this, New York Police issued a statement saying that it is investigating the attack on writer Salman Rushdie. New York Police said that on August 2, 2022, at around 11 a.m., a suspect climbed onto the stage to attack Rushdie and the person interviewing him. Rushdie has been stabbed in the neck.

New York police said the suspected attacker was immediately taken into custody. Rushdie has a neck injury. Rushdie has been taken to a local hospital by a helicopter. There is no information about his condition yet. At the same time, his interviewer has suffered a minor head injury. A team from the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is at the scene.

According to the report of the US newspaper New York Times, Rita Landman, an endocrinologist present at the event where Rushdie was to address, went on stage and gave first aid to Rushdie. Rita said Rushdie had multiple stab wounds on his body, one of which was on the right side of his neck and he was lying in a pool of blood. He said he appeared to be alive and was not taking CPR. Rita said that the people present there were saying that her heartbeat was going on.

Meanwhile, New York State Governor Cathy Hochul said Rushdie is alive and has been airlifted to a safe place. Along with this, he also said that the officials are monitoring the situation. Kathy Hochul said that Salman Rushdie kept telling the truth in front of those in power for many decades. The governor of New York State, speaking at an event aimed at preventing gun violence, said she was "deeply saddened" to learn of an attack on iconic figure Salman Rushdie during an event. He is alive and has been airlifted to a safe place.

The controversial book 'The Satanic Verses' by Indian-origin author Salman Rushdie has been banned in Iran since 1988. Many Muslims believe that Rushdie has committed blasphemy through this book. In this regard, the then supreme religious leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa for the death penalty for Rushdie. Iran also offered a reward of more than $3 million for the person who killed Rushdie. He was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize for Salman Rushdie's book 'Midnight's Children'.