BREAKING: Author Salman Rushdie attacked and stabbed as he was about to give lecture in New York

Sam J. | 12:06 PM on August 12, 2022

Author Salman Rushdie has been attacked/stabbed as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.

BREAKING: Author Salman Rushdie has been attacked as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. An @AP reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing Rushdie as he was being introduced. https://t.co/bVTbfkLjyL

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 12, 2022

From AP News:

Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked Friday as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.

An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing Rushdie as he was being introduced. The 75-year-old author was pushed or fell to the floor, and the man was restrained.

Rushdie was quickly surrounded by a small group of people who held up his legs, presumably to send more blood to his chest.

His condition was not immediately known.

Hundreds of people in the audience gasped at the sight of the attack and were then evacuated.

Some of the photos are quite terrifying.

Blood appeared to be spattered on the wall behind where Rushdie had been attacked, with some also seen on a chair pic.twitter.com/JVrN3oU4CO

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 12, 2022

Rushdie has previously received death threats for his writing, with his book the Satanic Verses sparking protests in 1988

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 12, 2022