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Rushdie stabbing suspect 'in direct contact' with Iran's IRGC
A report in VICE World News said that the 24-year-old New Jersey man of Lebanese descent accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie on Friday (August 12) "had contact with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.”
Intelligence officials told the US-based media company that Hadi Matar was in contact with IRGC members via social media, the report said, according to the i24 news.
A Middle Eastern intelligence official told VICE that it was "clear" that Matar had been in contact with “people either directly involved with or adjacent to the Quds Force."
The Quds Force is one of five branches of the IRGC specializing in unconventional warfare and military intelligence operations.
The official said: “It’s unclear the extent of the involvement, if this was a directly supported assassination attempt or if it was a series of suggestions and directions in picking a target.”
Sunday's VICE report also stated that there was no evidence of Iranian involvement in organizing the attack on Rushdie, 75, who was stabbed at least 10 times while on stage in Chautauqua, New York.
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Rushdie remains hospitalized in "critical condition" but was taken off the ventilator, according to his son. His literary agent said that Rushdie is "on the road to recovery."
Matar on Saturday (August 13) pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault and was ordered held without bail.
Source: i24news
