UPDATE: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) spoke about the incident, noting that Salman Rushdie is “alive” and being treated at a local hospital.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) says author Salman Rushdie is alive after being stabbed while speaking at a lecture in western New York:
— The Recount (@therecount) August 12, 2022
“I want to commend the state police. It was a state police officer who stood up and saved his life, protected him.” pic.twitter.com/hYkEeRdbnZ
Novelist Salman Rushdie, who has death threats from Iran, was allegedly stabbed on stage Friday in Chautauqua, New York.
Click here to join Todd’s private Facebook group for Conservatives.
A man stormed the Chautauqua Institution stage and attacked Rushdie, an Associated Press reporter said.
The suspect was restrained and Rushdie was on the floor. The audience was immediately evacuated, according to AP.
Franklin Graham Slams Trump Raid as ‘Very Frightening,’ U.S. Headed Toward Communism
Video of the attack was posted on social media.
“The Satanic Verses” author has had his books banned in Iran since the 1980s, where there is a $3 million reward for anyone who kills Rushdie. Muslims consider his work blasphemous.
#SalmanRushdie just attacked onstage at @chq @NBCNews @ABC @cnnbrk pic.twitter.com/I1XT6AmkhK
— Charles Savenor (@CharlieSavenor) August 12, 2022
“Just witnessed the horrific assassination attempt on #SalmanRushdie’s life. He was stabbed multiple times before attacker was subdued by security,” author Carl Levan tweeted shortly after the stabbing. “Some intrepid members of audience went on stage. What courage will be expected of us next to defend even the smallest freedoms?”
#BREAKING Author Salman Rushdie attacked on stage in New York statehttps://t.co/tkaRhX8vqe pic.twitter.com/FxMIzR0ODc
— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) August 12, 2022
The suspect was detained by police and Rushdie was able to walk away with assistance, journalist Ryan Kelly tweeted.
Footage posted on Twitter shows Rushdie being loaded onto a State MedEvac. Rushdie’s condition is unknown.
Salman Rushdie loaded onto Medevac. Very somber scene here at Chautauqua pic.twitter.com/c6E9LJth7O
— Horatio Gates (@HoratioGates3) August 12, 2022
“The fatwa against Rushdie has never been revoked,” Ben Shapiro said. “If this is tied to Iran, it demonstrates once again that American attempts to woo the ayatollahs are an act of supreme idiocy.”
To summarize reports:
— Ryan Kelly (@NotThatRKelly) August 12, 2022
Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed after taking stage at a Chautauqua Institute event. He received aid on-site and was able to eventually walk off stage with assistance.
This man has been detained by police: pic.twitter.com/nkQSMkJt24
A witness, Ward Pautler, told The Daily Beast that Rushdie had just come out on stage when a man who was “heavy set and wearing a black headpiece” rushed the stage.
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 12, 2022
Pautler thought the man was “punching Rushdie, but then I realized he was stabbing him.”https://t.co/bP1eIqCmwS
This is a developing story.