Author Salman Rushdie was attacked as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.
While intially it was not clear whether the author was punched or stabbed, the New York State Police later issued a statement saying that Rushdie had suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck.
The police also confirmed that attacker had been restrained.
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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.
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(with AP inputs)