Salman Rushdie off ventilator after attack, can talk
Washington (US), August 14: A day after renowned author Salman Rushdie was attacked, he has been taken off the ventilator and will be able to talk, his agent informed.
Rushdie's agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed that the author was taken off a ventilator and could be able to talk. However, he did not give further details.
Meanwhile, Hadi Matar, who is suspected of stabbing Rushdie, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and other charges in a New York court.
Matar was arraigned in a centralised arraignment on Saturday and was remanded in Chautauqua County Jail without bail. The 24-year-old pleaded not guilty, according to his public defender Nathaniel Barone, CNN reported.
Matar was arrested on Friday and remanded without bail at Chautauqua County Jail on charges of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the second degree.
"On August 12, 2022, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Hadi Matar, 24 of Fairview, NJ for Attempted Murder 2nd degree (B Felony) and Assault 2nd degree. Matar was processed at SP Jamestown and transported to Chautauqua County Jail. Matar was arraigned in centralized arraignment on August 13, 2022, and was remanded without bail at Chautauqua County Jail," Police said in a statement.
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"On August 12, 2022, at about 10:47 a.m., a male suspect later identified as Hadi Matar, 24 of Fairview, NJ ran up onto the stage and attacked Salman Rushdie, 75. Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck and chest and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital. His condition is not yet known," an earlier statement read.
Salman Rushdie who received death threats because of his book "The Satanic Verses," was "stabbed" on stage in Western New York on Friday.
After the fatal attack, Rushdie was put on ventilator. However, he may lose one eye, the reports said. "Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed, and his liver was stabbed and damaged," his agent had said.
The author was airlifted to a hospital after being stabbed in the neck and torso onstage at a lecture in New York state, police said on Friday.
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-PTC News with ANI inputs
