Attack on New York lecture stage by author Salman Rushdie. He is facing a serious situation and a death danger.
In the 1980s, Salman Rushdie received death threats from Iran because of his writing. On Friday, as he prepared to deliver a lecture in western New York, he was attacked.
As Rushdie was being introduced, an Associated Press reporter saw a man attack the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and start hitting or stabbing Rushdie.
The 75-year-old novelist was shoved or knocked to the ground and restrained. There was no immediate word on his health.
A small group of people soon approached Rushdie and held up his legs, apparently to increase the flow of blood to his heart.
Iran has outlawed Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" since 1988 because many Muslims view it as disrespectful.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late president of Iran, called for Rushdie's execution in a fatwa, or decree, that was published a year later.
It is known from the source that Rushdie's assassination has apparently attracted a bounty of more than $3 million.
Although the Iranian government has long since distanced itself from Khomeini's order, animosity for Rushdie has persisted.
Rushdie's reward was increased from $2.8 million to $3.3 million in 2012 by a semi-official Iranian religious institution.
At the time, Rushdie rejected that threat, claiming there was "no proof" that anyone would be interested in the reward.