Tbh , given the nature of Rushdie's persecution over the years I am surprised that better personal protection wasn't afforded him at the institute. The full details and reasons behind this attack aren't yet known but on the face of it seems to have been literally an attack on freedom of speech and thought and another example of how minds can be warped by religious intolerance and hatred.

Rushdie's condition doesn't look good and he will likely lose an eye and possibly use of an arm but hope he survives this and manages to recover as best he can. Always came across as a thoughtful man whose intent in writing The Satanic Verses was to question rather than deliberately offend fellow Muslims.