Salman Rushdie updates — Scotland Police investigating threat to JK Rowling after Satanic Verses author stabbed 10 times
POLICE in Scotland said they are investigating an online threat made to author JK Rowling, after she tweeted about the stabbing of Salman Rushdie.
The author issued a tweet saying she had hoped Rushdie was okay after he was allegedly stabbed 10 times, and said she felt "very sick."
A user commented, "don't worry you are next."
The Harry Potter creator assured fans "To all sending supportive messages: thank you police are involved (were already involved on other threats)".
Rushdie was attacked as he spoke at the Chautauqua Institution, prosecutors said at the suspect's arraignment.
Hadi Matar, 24, of New Jersey has been charged with attempted murder and assault.
According to the New York Times, prosecutors said that the attack was premeditated and targeted at Rushdie.
Read our Salman Rushdie blog for news and updates...
Governor Kathy Hochul: 'Our thoughts are with Salman'
New York Governor Kathy Hochul took to Twitter after the attack on Salman Rushdie, writing: "Thank you to the swift response of @nyspolice & first responders following today's attack of author Salman Rushdie.
"Our thoughts are with Salman & his loved ones following this horrific event. I have directed State Police to further assist however needed in the investigation."
New book coming out
Rushdie's next book, Victory City, is set to be published on February 7, 2023, in both the US and Canada.
Penguin Randomhouse announced the book's release in June 2022 and depicted the book as: "Brilliantly styled as a translation of an ancient Indian epic with a woman at its center, this is a saga of love, adventure, and myth that is itself a testament to the power of storytelling.
"This breathtaking novel represents a return to Rushdie’s particular—and beloved—brand of magical realism. Pampa Kampana is a heroine for the ages, and an unforgettable character in the Rushdie canon."
Hillary Clinton: 'I am horrified'
The former Secretary of State issued a tweet addressing the stabbing attack of Salman Rushdie.
"I'm horrified by the cowardly attack on Salman Rushdie and praying for his speedy recovery," she wrote.
"As he once wrote: 'A poet's work [is] to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it from going to sleep.'"
Jake Sullivan speaks out
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke out against the attack on Friday.
"Today, the country and the world witnessed a reprehensible attack against the writer Salman Rushdie," he said in a statement.
" This act of violence is appalling. All of us in the Biden-Harris Administration are praying for his speedy recovery."
" We are thankful to good citizens and first responders for helping Mr. Rushdie so quickly after the attack and to law enforcement for its swift and effective work, which is ongoing. "
Security Concerns raised
According to the AP News, there are no metal detectors or bag checks, at the Chautauqua Institution where the stabbing occurred, raising security concerns.
"We assess for every event what we think the appropriate security level is and this one was certainly one that we thought was important, which is why we had state trooper and Sheriff presence there," Michael Hill, the head of the Chautauqua Institution told reporters.
"We will assess for each of the events at the institution what we think the appropriate level of security is and that's an ongoing process that we work with local law enforcement."
'He has a pulse, he has a pulse'
After the discussion, Rita Landman, an endocrinologist who was in the crowd, came on stage to give support, according to the New York Times.
There was a pool of blood under Rushdie's body, according to the witness, and he had many stab wounds, including one to the right side of his neck.
She said that he didn't appear to be receiving CPR and looked to be alive.
“People were saying, ‘He has a pulse, he has a pulse he has a pulse,’” Landman said.
Stephen King shaken by attack
The novelist issued a Tweet Saturday evening, following the alleged attempted murder of Salman Rushdie.
"I'm trying to cheer myself up this afternoon," he wrote.
"What happened to Salman Rushdie preys on my mind."
Bill Clinton prays for Salman Rushdie
The former president took to Twitter to offer his support to Salman Rushdie.
"Salman Rushdie has lived his life courageously and refused to let intimidation silence him, his art, and what he stands for," he wrote.
"I am keeping him in my thoughts and praying for his recovery."
Moderator injured responds
Ralph Henry Reese, who was moderating the discussion with Rushdie, and received injuries to his face during the alleged stabbing, was released from the hospital earlier today, police said.
In an emailed statement to the New York Times, he said Rushdie is “one of the great defenders of freedom of speech and freedom of creative expression.”
“The fact that this attack could occur in the United States is indicative of the threats to writers from many governments and from many individuals and organizations,” he said.
Chautauqua Institution's security reponse
After the attack, The Chautauqua Institution's security that morning has been criticized for being too lax and allowing the suspect to get into the presentation with a weapon.
Emily Morris, Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer for Chautauqua Institution, addressed the concerns in an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun on Saturday.
"We understand the questions around security, and it is of course both natural and important to do an after-action review in all situations like the tragedy we are dealing with," she said.
"Our plan for August 12 was developed in consultation with the FBI, New York State Police and the Chautauqua County Sherriff’s Office.
"We enhanced our normal protocols according to that consultation. And, we continue to consult on what we need to do moving forward."
Rushdie’s early life
Rushdie migrated to England from India to attend the Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, and subsequently King’s College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
He was raised in Bombay and schooled at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Fort, South Bombay.
Rushdie went permanently to the UK after receiving his degree from Cambridge after spending a brief period of time with his family in Pakistan (who had relocated there from Bombay, India).
Rushdie always worried about safety
Avi Abraham Benlolo, founder and chairman of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative, spoke with The U.S. Sun about the chilling warnings he allegedly received from an unknown caller who threatened to put “a bullet” in his head, for hosting an event with Rushdie.
“Because of that, I had to get in touch with police and they increased their presence around the gathering.”
He said Rushdie always feared for his own safety.
“He was concerned about his security but had to live his life. In my view, he was a real hero for projecting free thinking and he didn’t allow the Iranian dictatorship to stop him.”
“I’ve met many people; prime ministers, US presidents and he was one of the most prolific thinkers I’ve ever met. We talked about extremism and that’s what I think prompted this attack.”
Rushdie on Al-Qaeda hit list in 2010
Anwar al-Awlaki published an Al-Qaeda hit list in Inspire magazine in 2010, which included Rushdie along with other individuals who were allegedly responsible for allegedly insulting Islam, according to a The Age article.
These individuals included Ayaan Hirsi Ali, cartoonist Lars Vilks, and three employees of the Jyllands-Posten: Kurt Westergaard, Carsten Juste, and Flemming Rose.
Later, the list was enlarged to include Stéphane “Charb” Charbonnier and 11 additional victims of the Paris terror attack on Charlie Hebdo. Al-Qaeda called for additional deaths following the assault.
Where is the Chautauqua Institution?
The town of Chautauqua is an affluent, scenic beauty near Lake Erie.
Up the road from The Institute is a park with luscious, manicured grass off Chautauqua Lake, which is a popular boating spot with a tugboat that provides visitors with rides around the lake.
Across the street is a golf club, and The Institute itself is a 150-year-old historic landmark.
The attack on Mr Rushdie is like "an attack in Mr Roger's Neighborhood," said Kristie, a longtime area resident whose dad went to Chautauqua every summer for 50 years.
Ms Morris had a message to share with the country.
"The person responsible for this violent attack and the hate it represents has no place at Chautauqua or anywhere," she said. "We will continue to convene and pursue our mission.
Chautauqua Institution's hero staffer
President of the facility Micheal Hill and Ms Hill acknowledged they have room to grow, Mr Hill applauded the staff's and attendees' bravery to stop the attacker.
He called it "some of the best humanity" coming together to stop the act of hate.
"I watched a member of our staff hurl themselves at the attacker.
I saw Chautauquans rush the stage to help secure the perpetrator, making it possible for police to remove him."I saw Chautauquans who are doctors and nurses rush to provide selfless care while the ambulance arrived.
"I saw what our Chaplain of the week, Terri Hord Owens, called us to possess: a generous, radical love for each other and this community."
When asked if The U.S. Sun can talk to the hero staffer, she said the staff doesn't wish to speak to the press.
Iranian lawmaker speaks out
Iranian lawmaker Malek Shariati Niasar has chillingly hinted the attack could have been the "direct work" of Iran as he branded Rushdie - who is at risk of losing an eye - an "apostate".
He said: "Attacking the renegade Salman Rushdie in America, if: 1. It should be Iran's work directly: proving the power of Islamic Iran.
"2. The work of a Muslim "Khomeini did not see" and be independent from Iran: exporting the revolution to the heart of the enemy
"3. Let America and England do their own work (!): a lesson in trusting the West.
"But in all three cases it is a warning to the killers of Martyr Soleimani."
Background of suspect
US law enforcement last night revealed an initial investigation suggested Matar is sympathetic to the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the New York Post reported.
He was born in the US to Lebanese parents who emigrated from Yaroun, a border village in southern Lebanon, said its mayor, Ali Tehfe.
Blood on walls at Chautauqua Institution
According to images from the scene, there were splatters of blood on the walls in the Chautauqua Insitute after the attack on author Salman Rushdie just before his lecture.
An Associated Press reporter saw a man approach the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and start “punching or stabbing” Rushdie.
The author was carried off or knocked to the ground, and the attacker was bound.
Rushdie’s honors in the world of literature
Rushdie was chosen to be a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1983. In 1999, the French government named him Commandeur of l’Ordre des Arts and des Lettres, per his Wikipedia profile.
He received a knighthood in 2007 for his contributions to literature. He was placed thirteenth on The Times’ 2008 list of the top 50 British authors since 1945.
Rushdie has resided in the US since the year 2000. In 2015, the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University designated him Distinguished Writer in Residence.
He had previously taught at Emory University. The American Academy of Arts and Letters chose him for membership. In response to the uproar surrounding The Satanic Verses, he released Joseph Anton: A Memoir in 2012, which is an account of his life.
Rushdie addressed the UN
Weeks before Friday's attack, Rushdie had spoken out about his "battle" with a story about a severed head in a speech.
He addressed the PEN America Emergency World Voices Congress of Writers at the United Nations and spoke about the Ukraine War.
During the speech, the author also accused the United States of "sliding back toward the Middle Ages" and slammed the resurgence of "bigoted ideas from centuries ago."
He said: "Meanwhile America is sliding back toward the Middle Ages, as white supremacy exerts itself not only over black bodies, but women’s bodies too.
"False narratives rooted in antiquated religiosity and bigoted ideas from centuries ago are used to justify this, and find willing audiences."
JK Rowling threatened
JK ROWLING has been sent a chilling death warning "you're next" after she posted support for Salman Rushdie.
Now Ms Rowling is working with the police after receiving a potential threat from a Twitter user.
The Harry Potter author, 57, shared screenshots to Twitter of a message from a user who had written "don't worry you are next" in response to her tweeting that she felt "very sick" after hearing the news and hoped the novelist would "be OK".
Rowling tagged Twitter's support account in the post and said: "Any chance of some support?"
She later updated her followers on the situation saying: "To all sending supportive messages: thank you.
"Police are involved (were already involved on other threats)."
Rishi Sunak calls for sanctions on Iran
ISHI Sunak has demanded Iran is sanctioned after the brutal stabbing of Salman Rushdie.
The potential future Prime Minister believes the attack should be a “wake up call for the West” and has warned that the UK “can’t take the eye off the ball”.
What is Salman Rushdie's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Salman Rushdie has an estimated net worth of approximately $10million, as of August 2022.
His main source of wealth is said to be from his career as a veteran novelist.
Rushdie is on the mend
According to the Times, Rushie was on a ventilator and could not speak, his agent said.
His condition has since improved and he is off the ventilator and talking. and joking, his agent said Saturday.
When was Salman Rushdie married to Padma Lakshmi?
Salman Rushdie has reportedly been married to four women.
Padma Lakshmi was his fourth wife.
Salman married was married to Clarissa Luard from 1976 to 1987. After their divorce, Salman married Marianne Wiggins from 1988 to 1993.
Subsequently, he went on to marry Elizabeth West from 1997 to 2004.