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New York police identify man who allegedly stabbed Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie is undergoing surgery at an area hospital, police said

Adam Sabes By Adam Sabes , Andrew Mark Miller Fox News
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New York State Police identified the man who allegedly stabbed author Salman Rushdie during a speech in Chautauqua, New York, on Friday.

A spokesperson for the New York State Police identified the suspect as Hadi Matar, 24, who allegedly "jumped onto the stage" and stabbed Rushdie "at least once in the neck."

Rushdie is undergoing surgery at an area hospital, according to the spokesperson.

Andrew Wylie, an agent for Rushdie told the New York Times that the author is on a ventilator and cannot speak.

"The news is not good," Wylie said. "Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged."

Rushdie was stabbed multiple times before a speech at the Chautauqua Institution on Friday in an attack that also injured the moderator of the event. 

"Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital," the New York State Police said in a statement following the attack. "His condition is not yet known. The interviewer suffered a minor head injury. A State Trooper assigned to the event immediately took the suspect into custody. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene."

STABBING OF SALMAN RUSHDIE COMES 33 YEARS AFTER FATWA ISSUED ON HIS LIFE BY IRAN

  • Salman Rushdie stabbing
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    Law enforcement stand watch outside at the Chautauqua Institution after author Salman Rushdie was attacked during a lecture, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Chautauqua, N.Y., about 75 miles (120 km) south of Buffalo. (AP Photo/Joshua Goodman)

  • Salman Rushdie incident
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    This still image from video shows Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, N.J., at left, being escorted from the stage as people tend to author Salman Rushdie, center right, at the Chautauqua Institution, in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by Matar who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. (AP Photo)

  • Chautauqua speech
    Image 3 of 4

    This still image from video shows Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, N.J., at left, being escorted from the stage as people tend to author Salman Rushdie, center right, at the Chautauqua Institution, in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by Matar who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. (AP Photo)

  • Chautauqua Sheriff's Department incident
    Image 4 of 4

    An officer with the Chautauqua Sheriff's Department speaks to a person at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution.  (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a press conference that the state trooper involved "stood up and saved" Rushdie's life.

The Chautauqua Institution is a performing arts center and community from June through September that hosts major artists and celebrities like Rushdie related to the fields of visual arts, dance, theater and music. 

It is an exclusive institution near Buffalo that carries entry fees ranging from $200-$2,600

NIKKI HALEY CALLS ON BIDEN ADMIN TO DENY IRANIAN PRESIDENT VISA AFTER ASSASSINATION PLOTS

  • Image 1 of 4

    ADDS NAME OF DETAINED PERSON Law enforcement officers detain Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, N.J., outside the Chautauqua Institution, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, in Chautauqua, N.Y.. Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by Matar who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture at the institute in western New York. (Charles Fox via AP)

  • Salman Rushdie crime
    Image 2 of 4

    A person makes a call outside the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)

  • New York stabbing
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    An officer stands outside a gate of the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Salman Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)

  • Salman Rushdie helicopter
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    In this still image from video, author Salman Rushdie is taken on a stretcher to a helicopter for transport to a hospital after he was attacked during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.  (AP Photo)

Rushdie has lived under the threat of a fatwa on his life issued by Iran in 1989 after he published a book called "The Satanic Verses" that was banned in the country and considered blasphemous by some Muslims.  

Iran has also offered over $3 million in reward for anyone who kills Rushdie.

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  • Author Salman Rushdie attacked during speech
    Image 1 of 3

    Author Salman Rushdie is tended to after he was attacked during a lecture, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., about 75 miles (120 km) south of Buffalo. (AP Photo/Joshua Goodman) (AP Photo/Joshua Goodman)

  • Salman Rushdie stabbing
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    WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: Blood stains mark a screen as author Salman Rushdie, who is behind it, is tended to after he was attacked during a lecture, Friday, Aug. 12, at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y. (AP/Joshua Goodman)

  • Salman Rushdie attacked in New York
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    Author Salman Rushdie, behind screen left, is tended to after he was attacked during a lecture on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y. (AP/Joshua Goodman)

Iran’s government has long since distanced itself from Khomeini’s decree, but anti-Rushdie sentiment lingered. In 2012, a semi-official Iranian religious foundation raised a bounty for Rushdie from $2.8 million to $3.3 million.

Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.