Injured Man Shares Prank Misunderstanding in Rushdie Stabbing Case

During the trial of Hadi Matar, the man accused of attacking author Salman Rushdie, Henry Reese, who intervened during the attack, testified that he initially thought the incident was a prank. Reese, who suffered a gash above his eye while trying to stop the assailant, described the moment as shocking and clarified that he acted once it became apparent that the situation was serious. Rushdie, who was severely injured in the attack, recounted his near-death experience on stage, stating he was lying in a 'lake' of his own blood and believed he might die. He credited Reese and bystanders for their swift actions that likely saved his life. The attack occurred in August 2022 as Rushdie was speaking at the Chautauqua Institution, where he has faced threats since the 1989 fatwa issued against him for his novel "The Satanic Verses." Matar has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.