Salman Rushdie's attacker convicted on federal terrorism charges

A federal jury in New York has convicted Hadi Matar on terrorism charges stemming from his August 2022 attack on author Sir Salman Rushdie. Matar, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence for attempted murder, was found guilty of providing material support to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group designated as a terrorist organization by the US, and committing an act of transnational terrorism.

During a public lecture in New York, Matar stabbed Rushdie about ten times, leaving the writer blind in one eye. Prosecutors argued that Matar acted to target Rushdie over his novel "The Satanic Verses." The 28-year-old dual US-Lebanese national was arrested at the scene immediately following the assault.

Sources: BBC News, NOS, Sweden Herald.