“He off fan, so the road is in recovery started,” Rushdie’s agent Andrew Wylie told CNN. on Sunday. – It will be a long time – the injuries are severe. But his condition is deteriorating. in right direction.”
“Despite the fact that his life-changing injuries are serious, his usual cocky and cocky feeling of humor remains safe and sound,” the statement said.
Rushdie prepared for give lecture at the Chautauqua Institute on Friday when the man jumped on stage and stabbed him in several places, including the neck and abdomen.
“It was very difficult to understand. like kind of bad prank and it didn’t make any sense of reality”said Ralph Henry Reese, another speaker at event who injured minor head injury during attack. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance and then released with face care injury.
“And then when there was blood behind him, became realReese told CNN’s Reliable Sources. on Sunday.
Rushdie was airlifted to the hospital after attack and underwent surgery, police said. The author can complete up lost his right eye, Schmidt said.
“We are very grateful to all the viewers who jumped bravely defense and managed first help together with police and doctors who taken care of for him,” the statement said, “and for outpouring of Love and support from all over world.”
Sunday tweeted Padma Lakshmi, TV presenter and author former wife, said she was “relieved” that Rushdie was “surviving Friday nightmare.”
“Alarmed and silent, I can finally exhale. Now I hope for fast healing,” she said.
The suspect pleaded not guilty
The lawyer said Matar was “very cooperative” and communicated openly, but he did not discuss what was said during those conversations.
Matar was denied bail and sent to the Chatoqua County Jail. His next court appearance. Friday.
He faces up up to 32 years in case of conviction of both charges, Schmidt said.
FBI is working now with local and international authorities to investigate attack at the Chautauqua Institute what happened in front of audience when Rushdie was introduced.
Witness, Joyce Lussier, was sitting in in second scandal when she saw a man jump over the stage and lunge at Rushdie. She heard people screamed and cried, she told CNN and saw people from the public in a hurry up To the stage.
Another witness, Stephen Davis, who captured video of moments just after attacking Rushdie said he couldn’t tell if the assailant had a knife in his hand.
“He lunged at Mr. Rushdie and started beating him with his hand, very fast,” Davis said. “I was completely stunned and shocked.”
Authorities do not disclose the specific type of weapon that was used in in attack.
The suspect had pass to event what is now facing questions over its security procedures
The suspect has arrived in Chautauqua at least a day before event and bought pass to event two days before, Schmidt said during Matar’s arraignment.
Matar traveled to Chautauqua by bus and cash prepaid visa cards as well as false identification with him, Schmidt said, who called the stabbing “purposeful, pre-planned, unprovoked attack on Mr Rushdie.
There were no searches or metal detectors on the territory. event person who was a witness attack told CNN. Witness not identified because he expressed concern for their personal safety.
AT attack raised questions about the security arrangements at the host institution.
The management of the institution rejected the recommendations for basic security measures, including checking bags and metal detectors, for fear it would create a gap between speakers and the audience, according to two sources. who spoke with CNN on condition of anonymity, as they were not allowed to speak in public.
Institution president Michael Hill defended his organization’s safety plans when asked during news conference on Friday more precautions in future events.
“We evaluate for each event what we consider to be an appropriate level of security, and that is one was definitely one which we thought was important, so we had a state cop and a sheriff there,” Hill said. – We appreciate for each of in events in the Institution, what we consider the appropriate level of security is an ongoing process that we work in concert with local law enforcement on.”
Matar — who authorities say it has no documentary evidence criminal history – has been described as a quiet person who mostly kept to himself. Exclusively spoke to CNN with State of Boxing fitness club owner Desmond Boyle, who said Matar entered gym in North Bergen, New Jersey 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. on Saturday.
While the investigation was ongoing, the police on Friday night seen in New Jersey home believed to be related to the suspect.
Rushdie had an award on his head
In the writings of Rushdie there is won him several literary awards, but this was his fourth novel”Satanic verses”, which have attracted the most attention as some Muslims found the book must be blasphemous. The book that sparked the demonstrations was banned in several countries.
The late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who characterized the book as an insult to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, issued a religious decree, or fatwa, calling for Rushdie death in 1989.
As a result, Rushdie began the decade under the British protection.
Generosity against However, Rushdie was never raised. in 1998 Iranian government sought distance himself from the fatwa, promising not to try to carry it out.
However, in In 2017, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was asked if the “fatwa” against Rushdie was still in effect”, and he confirmed this by saying: “The decree was issued by Imam Khomeini.”
AT event On Friday, Rushdie was supposed to talk about
Keely Westhoff of CNN, Andy Rose, Paul P. Murphy, Aya Elamrussi, Ray Sanchez, Christina Maksouris, Artemis Moshtagian, Sarah Smart, and Samantha Beach contributed to this report.
