Salman Rushdie, the USA bestseller of TODAY, whose work resulted in death threats The author was attacked on Friday while the author was about to deliver an address on the Chautauqua Institution in the western part of New York
The agent of Rushdie, Andrew Wylie of The Wylie Agency told the writer was in the ventilator on Friday evening suffering from a damaged liver, broken nerves in the arm, and an eye which he could lose.
New York police said a state trooper who was assigned to the incident took the suspect into custody following the incident. At a press briefing they identified the person in question as Hadi Matar, 24, resident of Fairview
New Jersey, according to New York State Police Major Eugene Staniszewsk. The police have not “have any indication of a motivation at this time,” Staniszewsk said, adding that charges against Matar haven’t been made yet
Earlier Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that Rushdie “is an individual who has spent decades speaking truth to power. Someone who’s been out there unafraid despite the threats that have followed him his entire adult life, it seems.”
Rushdie was transported to the hospital by helicopter, according to police that they said the “interviewer suffered a minor head injury.” Staniszewsk confirmed that the interviewer had been treated and discharged at the end of the day from the hospital.
The Chautauqua Institution “is currently coordinating with law enforcement and emergency officials on a public response,” according to a statement sent by the institution to USA TODAY.
Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, a non-profit organization working to protect freedom of expression by advancing of human rights and literature In an email statement on Friday that Rushdie was “targeted for his words.”