As Salman Rushdie, 75, was preparing to deliver a lecture on freedom of creativity at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York, Hadi Matar rushed to the podium and stabbed the Indian-born writer who has outraged the Muslim world with his novel "The Satanic Verses," prompting Ayatollah Khomeini to issue A fatwa in 1989 calls for his killing.

Rushdie was immediately taken to the hospital, and after hours of surgery he was put on a ventilator and was unable to speak until Friday evening, according to his literary agent, Andrew Wiley.

Wiley said in an email that Rushdie was likely to lose an eye, nerves in his arm and liver injuries.

The following is the most important information available so far about the perpetrator of the stabbing attack against Rushdie:

name and age

His name is Hadi Matar and he is 24 years old.

Birth and upbringing

He hails from Fairview, New Jersey, but NBC New York reports that Matar was born in California, and has recently moved to New Jersey.

assets

Ali Qassem Tuhfa, mayor of Yaroun village in southern Lebanon, said Hadi Matar is "of Lebanese origin."

He added, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, that Matar "was born and raised in the United States, and his father and mother are from Yaron."

driving license

NBC New York reported that security forces found a fake driver's license with him.

counts

Prosecutors in Chautauqua County, New York, said Saturday that Matar is facing attempted murder and is being held without bail.

In a statement, District Attorney Jason Schmidt said he had charged Matar with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault.

before the judiciary

Hadi Matar pleaded not guilty before a court on Saturday.

Arrest and place of imprisonment

He was arrested at the scene by a state police officer after he was thrown to the ground by members of the public.

Matar is being held in Chautauqua County Jail.

connections

US police spokesman James O'Callaghan said police at this point believe the assailant acted alone, but they are conducting an investigation to make sure.

The relationship with Hezbollah

Although Matar is of Lebanese descent, a Hezbollah official said they had no further information about the stabbing incident, "and therefore we will not issue any comment."

And the mayor of Yaron village, Ali Qassem Tohfa, said - in response to a question whether the suspect or his parents belonged to Hezbollah - that he had absolutely no information about their political views.