Minutes after writer Salman Rushdie was stabbed on Friday, police took a 24-year-old man into custody. Rushdie, an Indian-origin best-selling writer based mostly within the UK, was attacked at a ebook occasion at New York’s Chautauqua Institution on Friday night. Eyewitnesses stated the incident occurred minutes after the writer took his seat on the stage and was about to be launched.
The 75-year-old, who was born in Bombay, has confronted Islamist demise threats for years for writing the novel ‘The Satanic Verses’. The ebook was banned shortly after publication in a number of international locations, together with India, and triggered a fatwa in opposition to Rushdie by Iran’s then Supreme Leader.
“A man jumped up on the stage from I don’t know where and started what looked like beating him on the chest, repeated fist strokes into his chest and neck,” Bradley Fisher, who was within the viewers, advised information company Reuters. Shortly afterwards, the attacker was taken into police custody. Here’s what we all know of him.
Who stabbed Salman Rushdie?
Law enforcement officers have recognized the attacker as Hadi Matar. The 24-year-old man reportedly hails from New Jersey.
A plain-clothed police officer stands close to the doorway of the constructing the place alleged attacker of Salman Rushdie, Hadi Matar, lives in Fairview, New Jersey, US, August 12, 2022. (Reuters)
Police didn’t describe the weapon used. They stated they haven’t zeroed in on the motive. “But we are working with the FBI, the Sheriff’s Office and we will determine what the cause of this was and what the motive for this attack was,” stated Major Eugene Staniszewski of the New York State Police, reported PTI.
How the occasions unfolded
Staniszewski stated at 10.47 am native time (8.17 pm IST), Rushdie had simply arrived on stage on the Chautauqua Institution for the occasion.
“Shortly thereafter, the suspect jumped onto the stage and attacked Rushdie, stabbing him at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen,” he stated.
Police recognized the person who attacked writer Salman Rushdie as Hadi Matar. He was arrested on the scene and was awaiting arraignment.
State police Major Eugene J. Staniszewski stated the motive for the stabbing was unclear.https://t.co/zpbIbfBzWp pic.twitter.com/vpoIkImXk8
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 12, 2022
Staniszewski stated a number of members of the workers on the establishment and viewers members rushed the suspect and took him to the bottom. A trooper with the New York State Police, who was on the establishment, took the suspect into custody with the help of a Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputy.
Photographs confirmed a person, carrying a military fatigue shirt and jacket and sporting a buzzcut being frog-marched to a police car.
Where is Matar from?
While addressing a press convention, Staniszewski was requested of Matar’s nationality, to which he replied: “I don’t know yet.”
He stated authorities are within the “process of obtaining search warrants for various items. There was a backpack located at the scene. There was also electronic devices”. He added that in the intervening time, it’s assumed that the suspect was “working alone”.
Rushdie was supplied with fast assist by a physician who was current within the viewers, and was later tended to by the emergency companies and airlifted to a hospital, stated the police.