Author Sir Salman Rushdie has been airlifted to hospital after he was stabbed up to 15 times, including once in the neck, in front of a packed crowd at an event in New York.
The Satanic Verses novelist has been airlifted to hospital, where he is now undergoing surgery, after he was knifed on stage.
Police have arrested the suspected attack of Sir Salman. He's been named as 24-year-old Hadi Matar, of Fairview New Jersey
The Chautauqua Institution, where Sir Salman was due to speak, was evacuated after he was attacked at the venue.
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.
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.
The 75-year-old was previously slapped with a fatwa ordering his execution by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini after the publication of his controversial book in 1988.
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.
She said he is "getting the care he needs" in hospital.
The author's agent confirmed he is now in surgery.
Sir Salman fell to the floor after an attacker punched and lunged at him on stage, witnesses said.
Witnesses said they saw the author bleeding heavily, with blood sent across the stage, his chair and a nearby backdrop.
Medics were seen raising his legs as the writer went into shock before he was flown by helicopter to hospital.
Witness Ward Pautler said Sir Salman had just come out and sat down on stage when he was attacked by an individual described as “heavy set and wearing a black headpiece.”
Sitting just three rows away from the stage - next to his brother-in-law - Mr Pautler said he thought the assailant was “punching Rushdie, but then I realised he was stabbing him.”
“It didn’t take long for me to realise that he wasn’t punching Rushdie because you don’t punch with the side of your hand,” he added.
As people moved Sir Salman away from the table, Mr Pautler said “there were other people with towels wiping up the blood on the stage.”
“It’s so surreal. The more you think about it, the scarier it seems,” he added.
Rita Landman, who was in the audience at the Chautauqua Institution, told the New York Times that Sir Salmon was stabbed "multiple times".
She added that there was a pool of his own blood under his body, although he appeared to be alive.
"People were saying, ‘He has a pulse, he has a pulse he has a pulse'," she said.
Another audience member, Roger Warner, added: "He was covered with blood and there was blood running down onto the floor.
"I just saw blood all around his eyes and running down his cheek."
One eyewitness wrote on social media: "A most horrible event just happened at #chautauquainstitution - Salman Rushdie was attacked on stage at #chq2022.
"The amphitheater is evacuated. The attacker is in custody.
"Please hold Mr Rushdie and all of the Institution in prayer. We are all incredibly traumatized."
One person tweeted: "Salmon [sic] Rushdie stabbed at Chautauqua. He’s on the stage being treated. Before his scheduled speech."
Another Twitter user said: "Salmon [sic] Rushdie was just stabbed multiple times on stage at Chautauqua Institution (pic via friend there)"
People at the scene raised concerns about the security at the venue following the stabbing.
John Bulette, 85, said: "There was a huge security lapse. That somebody could get that close without any intervention was frightening."
Meanwhile, an usher at the site said security was "lax" and no extra measures were in place to protect Sir Salman.
The author's friends, fellow writers and politicians have reacted with horror to the attack.
Novelist Ian McEwan said: “This appalling attack on my dear friend Salman represents an assault on freedom of thought and speech.
"These are the freedoms that underpin all our rights and liberties.
"Salman has been an inspirational defender of persecuted writers and journalists across the world.
"He is a fiery and generous spirit, a man of immense talent and courage, and he will not be deterred.”
Fellow novelist Stephen King tweeted: "I hope Salman Rushdie is okay."
Meanwhile, JK Rowling wrote: "Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok."
The charitable group Humanists UK, which Sir Salman is a patron of, tweeted: "Shocked to hear about the attack on our patron Salman Rushdie.
"Details at this moment are scarce. But given that he has been a high-profile advocate for freedom of expression, and someone who has lived under death threats for years, we are concerned this could be the motivation."
Ruth Smeeth, head of Index Censorship, tweeted: "There are no words to describe this horror Index Censorship has a long relationship with Salman Rushdie.
"He is a brave man who will not be silenced. Our thoughts and prayers for a positive outcome are with him and his family."
Sir Salman's publisher Penguin Random House said they were "deeply shocked and appalled" by the attack.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng tweeted: "Horrified to learn Salaman Rushdie has been attacked in the US.
"Freedom of expression - in speech and in writing - is the foundation of a democratic society and must be cherished.
"As Rushdie said, we should protect writers as much as writing. I sincerely hope he recovers."
Boris Johnson tweeted: "Appalled that Sir Salman Rushdie has been stabbed while exercising a right we should never cease to defend.
"Right now my thoughts are with his loved ones. We are all hoping he is okay."
Sir Salman was due to speak about how America is a "home for freedom of creative expression" during his lecture at the Chautauqua Institution today.
An advert for the event on the institution's website states: "Rushdie returns to Chautauqua Institution for a special Chautauqua Lecture Series event exploring the Week Seven theme of 'More than Shelter', joined by Henry Reese, co-founder of the Pittsburgh nonprofit City of Asylum — the largest residency program in the world for writers living in exile under threat of persecution — for a discussion of the United States as asylum for writers and other artists in exile and as a home for freedom of creative expression."
The Chautauqua Institution tweeted about the incident this evening.
The centre said: "We ask for your prayers for Salman Rushdie and Henry Reese, and patience as we fully focus on co-ordinating with police officials following a tragic incident at the Amphitheater today.
"All programs are canceled for the remainder of the day. Please consult the NYS Police statement."
A religious foundation in Iran previously offered a $3million reward for the killing of Sir Salman.
Iran put out the hit on Sir Salman amid outrage over his book The Satanic Verses.
Many Muslims were offended by the novel and saw it as disparaging their religion.
The book was inspired by the life of the prophet Muhammad, however it was seen as blasphemous in some countries.
Demonstrations were held across the world and the text was banned in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Indonesia, Thailand and elsewhere.
Protests were also organised in the UK, including one in Bradford, where copies of the book were burnt, sparking outrage among freedom of speech advocates.
The Japanese translator of The Satanic Verses was stabbed to death in July 1991.
The killing took place less than two weeks after the Italian translator of the book was also knifed, although he survived.
The novel's Norwegian publisher, William Nygaard, was shot three times outside his home in 1993, however he was not killed.
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In 1998, Iran’s pro-reform government of President Mohammad Khatami distanced itself from the fatwa, saying the threat against Sir Salman was over after he had lived in hiding for nine years.
Although the Iranian regime stopped backing the fatwa, it was never officially lifted.
Sir Salman was knighted for his services to literature in 2007.
Speaking after receiving his knighthood, Sir Salman said: "I think the thing you hope to do as a writer is leave behind a shelf of interesting books and it's great just to have that work recognised."
