The motive behind the attack on Salman Rushdie is nor clear, the New York Police said. Reports quoted an eye witness saying the attacker was dressed in black with a black mask.The attacker of Salman Rushdie has been identified as 24-year-old Hadi Matar who is from New Jersey. The New York Police are yet to press charges against the attacker, it said in a statement as the charges will depend on Rushdie’s condition. The alleged attacker has been taken into custody. Shortly after Salman Rushdie arrived at the stage to deliver his speech, Hadi Matar attacked him at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen, police said. Also Read: Salman Rushdie in surgery after being stabbed onstage1. Hadi Matar had a pass to attend the lecture. His last official address was in Fairview, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
2. The motive of Matar’s attack remains unclear, police said. It is also believed that he acted alone.
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3. New York State Police said FBI is helping with the investigation which is at the very early stage. Police found a bag and some electronic devices on the spot.
4. Some reports claimed that Hadi Matar had sympathies towards the Iranian government that had called for Rushdie’s death. His Facebook account apparently had the photo of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran leader who issued fatwa against Salman Rushdie in 1989 after the publication of his The Satanic Verses, and his successor Ayatollah Khamenei.