Controversial author Sir Salman Rushdie has been attacked as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.
Sir Salman, whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was being introduced on stage at the Chautauqua Institution when the incident occurred on Friday.
An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man storm the stage and begin punching or stabbing the author as he was being introduced. Sir Salman was then either taken or fell to the floor, and the man was restrained.
Sir Salman’s book The Satanic Verses has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous.
A year later, Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Sir Salman’s death.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here