The lawyer of Hadi Matar, the suspect in the stabbing of the famous writer Salman Rushdie in western New York, said that his client pleaded not guilty to attempted second-degree murder and other charges.

American authorities had said that Hadi Matar, 24 years old, is accused of stabbing Rushdie - the controversial writer, according to the American "CNN" agency, Saturday, August 13, 2022.

The accused of assaulting Salman Rushdie pleads not guilty

Matar, a resident of New Jersey, was also charged with second-degree assault, with intent to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon, and Matar pleaded not guilty, according to public defender Nathaniel Baron.

While bail was denied and he was placed in Chautauqua County Jail. Matar's next court appearance will be on Friday.

The American judiciary announced on Saturday, August 13, 2022, that Hadi Matar was charged with "attempted murder and assault" on the British writer of Indian origin, Salman Rushdie.

Filing of charges

Meanwhile, the District Attorney of Chautauqua County, New York, Jason Schmidt, said in a statement that "the person responsible for yesterday's attack, Hadi Matar, has been formally charged with attempted murder and second-degree assault." He added, "These charges were filed last night, and he was held without bail."

Meanwhile, NBC New York cited security sources (unnamed) saying that "the initial security assessment shows that Matar, the suspect in the attack on Salman Rushdie, is sympathetic to Iran."

Meanwhile, The New York Times quoted eyewitnesses and state police on Friday saying that "Rushdie (75 years old) was stabbed at least twice (in his abdomen and neck)." The police added that "he was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Erie, northwestern Pennsylvania, and underwent surgery for several hours."

In this regard, his agent, Andrew Wylie, told The New York Times that "Rushdie is likely to lose his eye." He added that "nerves in his arm were severed, and his liver was stabbed and damaged... the news is not good."

He also confirmed that "Rushdie was put on a ventilator and cannot speak."

It is noteworthy that the writer Rushdie was stabbed on Friday while standing on the stage of an American institution in New York City, preparing to give a lecture.