Suspect charged in stabbing writer Salman Rushdie

Chautauqua, New York () – The man accused of stabbing renowned author Salman Rushdie last week on a stage in western New York has been charged by a grand jury, his defense attorney and the Chautauqua County district attorney’s office said Thursday.

Suspect’s attorney Hadi Matar, 24, of New Jersey, did not elaborate on the charges because he had not yet seen the document. The prosecutor’s office did not give more details about the charges.

“We anticipate that the prosecutor would certainly present this matter for indictment prior to any preliminary hearing. As such, we are prepared to continue with the arraignment today at 1 pm (Miami time) in the Chautauqua County Court,” said the prosecutor. Defensor lawyer Nathaniel Barone.

has sought comment from the district attorney’s office in Chautauqua County.

Killing declared himself innocent this Saturday of the second degree murder attempt and assault attempts with the intention of causing physical injuries with a mortal weapon, Barone said.

A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for Friday, Barone had said.

Rushdie, who has received death threats for his satirical and controversial book “Satanic Verses,” was about to give a lecture Friday at the Chautauqua Institution when an assailant jumped onto the stage and repeatedly stabbed him.

The 75-year-old writer suffered three stab wounds to the neck, four stab wounds to the stomach, puncture wounds to the right eye and chest, and a laceration to the right thigh, the Los Angeles County District Attorney said. Chautauqua, Jason Schmidt, last weekend.

Rushdie could lose vision in his right eye, the district attorney said last weekend.

This Monday Rushdie was hospitalized but awake and expressed “eloquence” in his conversations with the researchers, a law officer told with direct knowledge of the investigation.

Authorities have not released a motive for the attack.

— ‘s Holly Yan, Mark Morales and Alex Stambaugh contributed to this report.