Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born author who received death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked Friday morning in New York by a man who rushed the stage where the author was to speak.
Rushdie was transported to a local hospital by helicopter with a stab wound to the neck and chest, police said. Police have named Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old man from Fairview, New Jersey.
A motive has yet to be established, State Police Maj. Eugene Staniszewski said at a news conference Friday evening.
The world-renowned author, who is 75 years old, was attending a lecture series at the Chautauqua Institution as a guest speaker when the incident occurred.
According to a police statement, a male suspect charged the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer at approximately 11 a.m. ET.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody and Rushdie was transported to a local hospital. Rushdie's agent said he had undergone surgery and was on a ventilator Friday night.