Salman Rushdie stabbed on Stage at New York State event

Author Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed in the neck on Friday while onstage in Chautauqua, western New York, the state police said.

He spent years in hiding and under police protection after Iranian officials called for his execution 33 years ago.

The attack happened at about 11 am, shortly after Rushdie took the stage to deliver a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution.

Salman Rushdie was taken to the hospital via helicopter, the state police later said in a statement. His condition is not yet known. 

This is also not yet clear that what could be the real reason that motivated the attacker to do this.

Rita Landman, an endocrinologist who was in the audience, said that Rushdie had multiple stab wounds and a pool of blood.

“There was just one attacker,” said Elisabeth Healey, 75, who was in the audience. He ran with lightning speed over to him."

“It was very frightening and it gave me a pit in my stomach,” said Jane Bulette, 68, who has been coming for more than a decade.

“There was a huge security lapse,” said Bulette’s husband, John, 85 years, who witnessed the attack.