The man who attacked author Salman Rushdie was identified as 24-year-old Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey, according to New York State Police Major Eugene Staniszewski. According to a report by NBC News, Matar was born in California but moved to New Jersey, with last listed address in Fairview, and armed with a fake New Jersey driver's license.
Eventhough the motive is not clear, the news report quoted sources as saying that a preliminary review of Matar's social media accounts shows he is sympathetic to Shia extremism and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps causes, but with no definitive links to the IRGC.
The suspect—wearing all black with a black mask—had jumped onto the stage and attacked Rushdie, stabbing him at least once in the neck.
Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous. A year later, Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie's death.
Iran has also offered over $3 million in reward for anyone who kills Rushdie.
