Salman Rushdie suffers nerve damage, expected to lose eye after New York knife attack

Salman Rushdie is likely to lose an eye after the attempt on his life on Friday, with the writer also serving significant nerve and organ damage, according to reports. 

Rushdie was attacked on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York on Friday while giving a talk on free speech; he has been under intensive hospital care since the incident, while police have meanwhile apprehended his alleged attacker. 

Andrew Wylie, Rushdie's agent, told the New York Times later on Friday that the news is "not good" for the Indian-born British writer. 

"Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged," Wylie said. 

Rushdie is also reportedly on a ventilator and unable to speak. 

The suspect has been identified as Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old resident of Fairview, N.J.