On the open stage, the writer Salman Rushdie is suddenly attacked by a man with a knife and seriously injured. Doctors are fighting for the life of the 75-year-old. Meanwhile, the police are giving the first details about the perpetrator. It is still unclear why the man stabbed Rushdie.
According to the police, the man who attacked and seriously injured the writer icon Salman Rushdie is a 24-year-old American. The motive of the arrested man from New Jersey, who probably acted alone, is still unclear, said a police spokesman. The incident happened at a reading in the town of Chautauqua in western New York State.
Rushdie underwent surgery at a local hospital, sources said. His agent Andrew Wylie told the New York Times and Reuters that he had bad news about his health. "Salman will probably lose an eye, the nerves in his arm are severed." In addition, the author's liver was injured by a knife wound. Rushdie is currently being ventilated and cannot speak. According to police, he was stabbed at least once in the neck and stomach.
According to police, the young man stormed the stage at the event, which was attended by hundreds of people, around 11 a.m. local time and stabbed Rushdie. "Several event staff and spectators fell on the suspect and took him to the ground," a spokesman said. A police officer then arrested the 24-year-old. Meanwhile, Rushdie was treated by a doctor from the audience until paramedics arrived and the author was eventually taken to a clinic by helicopter.
The "New York Times" quoted a witness: "There was only one attacker. He was dressed in black. He had on loose black clothing. He ran towards him at lightning speed." An Associated Press reporter said the attacker punched or stabbed Rushdie 10 to 15 times. The interviewer, who was also attacked, suffered a head injury, police said. The AP news agency quoted a doctor from the audience as saying that Rushdie's wounds were "serious but curable".
The US government has condemned the serious knife attack on writer Salman Rushdie. "This act of violence is appalling," National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan said late Friday (local time), according to a White House statement. Everyone in the administration of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prayed for the 75-year-old's speedy recovery.
It is unclear whether the attack on Rushdie is related to a decades-old fatwa. Rushdie was sentenced to death more than 30 years ago by fatwa: because of his work "The Satanic Verses" from 1988, the then Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini published the religious legal document that called for the author to be killed. Some Muslims felt their religious sensibilities were offended by the work.
At the time, the Ayatollah's Islamic legal opinion not only called for the killing of Rushdie, but also of all those who were involved in distributing the book. A Japanese translator was later actually killed. Rushdie had to go into hiding and was given police protection. According to information from his publisher last year, the fatwa no longer had any meaning for Rushdie. He is no longer restricted in his freedom of movement and no longer needs bodyguards. He processed the years of hiding in the 2012 autobiography "Joseph Anton", named after his alias.
A few days ago, Rushdie told Stern magazine that he felt safe in the United States. "It was a long time ago," Rushdie said in an interview with correspondent Raphael Geiger at the end of July when asked if he still feared for his life. "It was serious for a few years," Rushdie continued. "But since I've been living in America, I haven't had any more problems." However, the author also warned about the political climate and possible violence in the USA: The bad thing is "that death threats have become commonplace".
Many politicians were shocked by the attack on Rushdie, including in Germany. Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann tweeted that the assassination attempt on him was a horrific crime. Rushdie stands for courage and free speech. "I hope he recovers quickly and fully from his serious injury." Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth shared the blame with the Iranian leadership. "There is also blood on the hands not only of the assassin, but also and especially those of the Iranian regime, which upholds the terrible fatwa against him to this day."
