According to law enforcement, the writer, whose books were awarded, was conscious on Monday and was able to answer questions from investigators. official.
It’s unclear what Rushdie told investigators after attack which shook the literary world and prompted immediate condemnation from around the world.
Suspect in in attack denoted as 24-year- old Hadi Matar supposedly jumped onto the stage at the Chatokua Institute, about 70 miles southwest. of According to the New York State Police, Buffalo, New York, and lunged at Rushdie, repeatedly stabbing him. The suspect was arrested down spectators and staff who forced him to lie on the ground until he was arrested by a state trooper.
The author received three stab wounds to the neck, four stab wounds to the abdomen, stab wounds to the right eye and chest, and a laceration on his right thigh, Chatoqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said during Matar’s arraignment. over weekends. Rushdie may lose his sight in right eye, he noted, adding that attack was purposeful and pre-planned.
Officials consider Matar, who lived in Fairview, New Jersey went to Buffalo. via bus and used a sharing app to get to Chatauqua the day before the attack, according to law enforcement official who spoke to CNN.
Investigators are not know where matar spent the night and they work with facility to review surveillance footage to determine if he was near area at night hours, official added.
After his arrest, Matar had a fake driver’s license, some cash, two Visa prepaid gift cards and no wallet official told CNN. Matar refused to answer questions from the authorities when he was taken into custody and asked for lawyer, law enforcement official said.
Public Defender Nathaniel Barone, who represents Matara, told CNN that his client is “very collaborative” and communicates openly.
Matar has pleaded not guilty to the charges. of second attempt murder and second attack with mean cause physical injury with a deadly weapons, Barone said.
What we know about the suspect
motive for in attack remains is unclear and the authorities are sifting items They took from New Jersey, Matara home, a law enforcement source said.
matar, who has no documented criminal history is accused of using knife in stabbing, according to a felony complaint.
it remains dont clear how maybe he went into event armed with knife. There were no searches or metal detectors on the territory. event said a witness who CNN did not name because they expressed concern for their personal safety.
Matar has been described as someone who quiet and mostly introverted, according to people who interacted with him in boxing gym in North Bergen, New Jersey.
Desmond Boyle, owner of State of Fitness boxing club, Matar told CNN, enrolled there in April.
“You know this look, this is the worst day of view of your life? He came in daily like it,” Boyle told CNN.
Roberto Irisarri, Member of at the gym said CNN Matar went to gym about three or four times in a week and was a “very quiet child”.
“It’s brotherly environment, family environment We try to involve everyone. He was pretty much on his own,” Irizarri said.
matar face up up to 32 if convicted, the district attorney said.
US condemns Iranian government statement
Attack on famous author painted support for him from writers and officials of all world.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was ‘appalled’ attack on rushdie, who is also British citizen.
“Horrified that Sir Salman Rushdie was stabbed while exercising a right we should never stop protecting. Now my thoughts with his loved ones.”
Rushdie began to live under British rule. protection after Iran issued a fatwa calling for for his death.
“We do not consider anyone except (Rushdie) and his supporters worth of accusation and even condemnation,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said during a televised speech. news conference.
Iranian officials learned nothing about the suspect other than that the US news media Kanaani said, according to the Iranian media. “We categorically and seriously deny any connection of attacker with Iran, Kanaani added.
The US State Department condemned Iran’s stance, calling the comments “despicable” and “disgusting.”
“Is not secret that the Iranian regime is central to the threats against his life over well of years,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. who called Iran “gloating” over in attack “absolutely outrageous.”
“We want it will be very clear that it’s not something we can put up with,” Price said.
In 1998 the Iranian government strove distance himself from the fatwa, promising not to try to carry it out. Despite this, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed the religious decree.
February 2017 on Khamenei official website, the supreme leader was asked if the “fatwa” against Rushdie was still in effect”, to which Khamenei confirmed that it was, saying: “The decree was issued by Imam Khomeini.”
CNN’s Nicky Brown, Liam Reilly, Artemis Moshtagian, Christina Sgueglia, Samantha Beach, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, David Romijn, Nuran Salahie, Adam Pourahmadi, Alex Stambo, Michael Conte, and Christian Sierra contributed to this report.
