Salman Rushdie stabbed onstage at NY performance, transported to hospital (2nd 2nd)

New York, Aug 12 : Author and controversial Salman Rushdie, whose fourth book The Satanic Verse earned him notoriety in 1988 and resulted in death threats against him over blasphemy was stabbed while taking part in an event in New York state, media reports claimed.

Indian-born Rushdie 75, who was born in India was speaking at an event of the Chautauqua Institution when a man came up to the stage, and appears to have stabbed or punched his co-worker according to the BBC reported, citing eyewitnesses.As per reports, in the midst of screams of terror by the crowd, a few were on stage and were able to stop the attacker and others rushed to the assistance of the person who was laying on the stage.

The assailant was arrested "A State Trooper assigned to the incident immediately arrested the suspect and took him into custody.The Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office assisted on the scene," the police said.vd/ar.