A jury in western New York on Friday found a New Jersey man guilty of attempted murder in the stabbing of the author Salman Rushdie, which left him partially blind.
The conviction of the man, Hadi Matar, 27, followed harrowing testimony from Mr. Rushdie, 77, who told jurors that he had been struck by his attacker’s dark, ferocious eyes. He testified that at first he believed he was being punched, but then he realized he had “a very large quantity of blood pouring out” onto his clothes.
Mr. Rushdie had been scheduled to deliver a talk at the Chautauqua Institution amphitheater in August 2022 about how the United States has been an asylum for writers and other artists in exile.
Shortly before his talk was set to begin, a man wearing dark clothing and a face mask rushed onto the stage and began stabbing Mr. Rushdie. Ralph Henry Reese, one of the founders of a project that offers refuge for writers, was onstage with Mr. Rushdie and was also injured in the attack.
Mr. Matar was also found guilty of assault for the injuries to Mr. Reese.
Sentencing is set for April 23. Mr. Matar faces up to 32 years in prison.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
