Writer’s agent says Salman Rushdie’s ‘street to restoration has begun’ as knife-wielding suspect pleads not responsible

“It was very difficult to understand. It sounded like a kind of bad prank, and there was no sense of reality in it,” stated one other speaker, Ralph Henry Reese, who suffered a minor head damage in the course of the assault. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance and later launched with a face damage.

“And then when he had blood behind it, it became real,” Reese advised CNN’s “Trusted Source” on Sunday.

Police stated Rushdie was taken to a hospital after the assault and underwent surgical procedure. The author might lose his proper eye, Schmidt stated.

“We are deeply grateful to all the audience members who bravely jumped to his rescue and provided first aid along with the police and doctors who have looked after him,” and the love and assist from world wide. for .”

In a tweet on Sunday, Padma Lakshmi, the TV host and ex-wife of the writer, said she was “relieved” Rushdie “is pulling off after Friday’s nightmare.”

“Anxious and wordless, can lastly exhale. Now there’s hope for fast therapeutic,” she stated.

Suspect has pleaded not responsible

The lawyer said Peas has been “very cooperative” and communicating openly, but he did not discuss what was said during those conversations.

Peas was refused bail and sent to the Chautauqua County Jail. His next court appearance is on Friday.

Schmidt said he could face up to 32 years in prison if convicted of both charges.

The FBI is now working with native and worldwide authorities to analyze the assault on the Chautauqua Institute, which befell in entrance of an viewers at Rushdie’s introduction.

A witness, Joyce Lussier, was sitting within the second row when she noticed a person leaping onto the stage and leaning on Rushdie. She heard folks screaming and crying, she advised CNN, and noticed folks operating throughout the stage from the viewers.

Another witness, Stephen Davis, who captured video of Rushdie moments after the assault, stated he couldn’t inform whether or not the assailant had a knife in his hand, though the felony criticism towards Peas indicated that he did use the knife. was used.

“He pounced on Mr. Rushdie and commenced hitting him in a short time along with his hand,” Davis said. “I used to be fully shocked and shocked.”

The suspect had a pass to the incident which is now facing questions over its security procedures

The suspects arrived at Chautauqua at least a day before the incident and bought a pass for the incident two days before, Schmidt said during the Peas’ convulsion.

Peas traveled to Chautauqua by bus and carried cash, a prepaid Visa card and false identification with him, Schmidt said, calling the stabbing a “focused, premeditated, unprovoked assault on Mr. Rushdie.”

An individual who witnessed the incident advised CNN that there have been no safety searches or steel detectors within the incident. The witness shouldn’t be being recognized as he has expressed concern for his private security.

The assault has raised questions concerning the safety precautions on the host establishment.

According to 2 sources who spoke with CNN on situation of anonymity, the group’s management rejected suggestions for fundamental safety measures, together with bag checks and steel detectors, as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly. . ,

The group’s president, Michael Hill, defended his group’s safety plans throughout a information convention on Friday when requested whether or not extra precautions could be taken in future incidents.

Hill stated, “We do an evaluation for each incident to find out what we predict is an acceptable safety degree, and it was actually one we thought of necessary, which is why we had a State Trooper and Sheriff’s presence.” Was.” “We will assess for each incident at the institution what we believe is an appropriate level of security and this is an ongoing process that we work on with local law enforcement.”

Matar – who officers say has no legal historical past – was described as a quiet man who largely stored to himself. CNN spoke solely with Desmond Boyle, proprietor of the State of Fitness Boxing Club, who stated Peas enrolled in a health club in North Bergen, New Jersey, in April.

“You know that look, that ‘this is the worst day of your life’ look? It used to be like that every day,” Boyle advised CNN on Saturday.

As the investigation continued, police had been noticed Friday night at a New Jersey dwelling believed to be linked to the suspect.

Rushdie had a bounty on his head

Rushdie’s writings have gained him a number of literary awards, nevertheless it was his fourth novel, “The Satanic Verses”, that garnered the best scrutiny, as some Muslims discovered the guide sacred. The guide, which incited the demonstrations, was banned in lots of international locations.

The late Iranian chief Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who referred to as the guide an insult to Islam and the Prophet Mohammed, issued a spiritual decree or fatwa in 1989 calling for Rushdie’s dying.

As a consequence, Rushdie started a decade below British safety.

The bounty towards Rushdie was by no means lifted, though in 1998 the Iranian authorities tried to distance itself from the fatwa and promised to not attempt to fulfill it.

However, in 2017, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was requested whether or not “the fatwa against Rushdie was still in effect,” and he confirmed, “This decree has been issued by Imam Khomeini.”