Sir Salman Rushdie’s suspected attacker identified

Sir Salman Rushdie, whose writing in the 1980s drew death threats, may lose an eye after being stabbed repeatedly at an event in New York, his agent has said.

Sir Salman was due to speak at an event of the Chautauqua Institution on Friday. As he was introduced, a man, later identified as Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, New Jersey, stormed the staged and attacked him.

The Chautauqua Institution, which was hosting Sir Salman Rushdie’s lecture when he was attacked, 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.