Salman Rushdie attacker pleads 'not guilty' as the author remains critical in hospital

New York : Author Salman Rushdie has been taken off the ventilator but his health condition is still critical as he remains in the hospital. He was stabbed multiple times during a public appearance in New York.

The accused attacker has been identified as 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, he has pleaded not guilty in court.

75-year-old Salman Rushdie was supposed to deliver a lecture in New York when the attacker rushed onto the stage and stabbed him multiple times before he was caught by the public present there.

After hours of surgery, Rushdie was shifted on ventilator support as he was unable to speak.

Meanwhile, the public stabbing has been criticized by many famous novelists and writers across the world. Till the time this report was being filed, the police had not established the motive behind the attack.