Novelist Salman Rushdie is on ventilator and may lose an eye after attack says his agent

dailystar.co.uk:

READ MORE: Shocking moment OnlyFans model attacks boyfriend in elevator months before his deathThe Satanic Verses novelist had been stabbed at an event in Chautauqua, New York, on Friday (August 12) after years of receiving death threats and being a target on Al Qaeda’s hitlist.The famous and controversial author is reported to have been stabbed 15 times with one of the wounds being to his neck during the on-stage attack.

He was airlifted to hospital following the attack. Three law enforcement sources identified the alleged attacker as Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview New Jersey.Sir Rushdie had been due to give a speech at the Chautauqua Institution, which was evacuated.Police said a man ran on stage and set upon the author and his interviewer.Witnesses claim Sir Salman was stabbed or punched 10 to 15 times.One witness told the New York Times that Sir Rushdie had been "lying in a pool of his own blood" following the attack.He was given immediate medical treatment on-site, before being airlifted to a local trauma centre.

He was still having surgery hours after the initial attack.Major Eugene J Staniszewski, of the New York State Police, said: "On August 12 2022 at about 11am a male suspect ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer."Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital."His condition is not yet known.

The interviewer suffered a minor head injury. A State Trooper assigned to the event immediately took the suspect into custody."New York state governor Kathy Hochul confirmed Sir Salman was still alive after the attack.As a former Booker Prize winner, Sir Rushdie's work has been both celebrated and criticised across the world.He has been dogged.