RUSHDIE ATTACKER Charged: Hezbollah Support Sparks Outrage
— Hadi Matar, the man accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie, now faces charges of supporting Hezbollah. A recent court filing in New York alleges Matar provided “material support” to the terrorist group.
Matar, 26, was charged with stabbing Rushdie on Aug. 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution. Rushdie was airlifted to a hospital and underwent life-saving surgery.
Matar refused a plea deal that required him to plead guilty to a federal terrorism-related charge. Now unsealed in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, he faces additional charges for his alleged ties to Hezbollah.
If convicted on any charges, authorities will confiscate several electronic devices from Matar, including hard drives and cellphones. The indictment highlights the severity of his alleged connections with the Iran-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon.