Salman Rushdie Attacker Speaks From Jail, Says He's Surprised Author Survived Multiple Stabs

The New Jersey man charged for attacking Salman Rushdie onstage in western New York has spoken up from jail and said he's surprised the author survived after being stabbed roughly 10 times, the New York Post reported.

Hadi Matar, of Fairview, showed great regard for the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini but said he acted alone in the knife attack.

Speaking with the outlet from the Chautauqua County Jail Wednesday, Matar said he decided to make a trip to Chautauqua after seeing a tweet about the 75-year-old author's visit on Aug. 12.

"I don't like the person. I don't think he's a very good person," the 24-year-old man told the outlet. "I don't like him. I don't like him very much."

"He's someone who attacked Islam, he attacked their beliefs, the belief systems," he added.

Matar did not say whether he was following the fatwa or the edict issued by Iran's Khomeini in 1989 that called for Rushdie's death over his controversial book "The Satanic Verses."

"I respect the ayatollah. I think he's a great person. That's as far as I will say about that," Matar said.

Matar, who was born in the U.S. to parents from southern Lebanon, denied having any contact with Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

Iran also said they have no involvement in the attack and blamed Rushdie for "insulting" Islam in his book.

The accused stabber admitted in the jailhouse interview that he didn't read the entire novel.

"I read a couple pages. I didn't read the whole thing cover to cover," he told the outlet.

He said he "saw a lot of lectures" that Rushdie gave, adding, "I don't like people who are disingenuous like that."

Matar explained how he took a bus to Buffalo the day before the attack and then booked a Lyft ride to Chautauqua. He bought a pass to enter the venue and slept on the grass the night before his planned attack on Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution.

"I was hanging around pretty much. Not doing anything in particular, just walking around," Matar recalled. "I was just outside the whole time."

Before Rushdie could deliver his speech on artistic freedom, Matar rushed to the stage and stabbed the Indian-born writer multiple times. Rushdie suffered a damaged liver in addition to severed nerves in his arm and eye, according to AP News.

The author was taken off a ventilator and is currently recovering, Andrew Wylie, Rushdie's agent, said, as per the outlet.

Matar was taken into custody immediately after the attack. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney Saturday to charges of attempted murder and assault.

Matar, who is being held without bail, may appear in court Thursday, the New York Post reported, citing the Chautauqua County District Attorney's Office. He is also scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Friday.