Author Sir Salman Rushdie, who has faced death threats for his novel The Satanic Verses, has been stabbed in the neck while on stage at an event in New York state.  

The Indian-born British author has been taken to hospital by helicopter but his condition is not yet known. His agent said he is undergoing surgery. 

The 75-year-old was about to give a lecture when a man stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and began attacking Sir Salman as he was being introduced, according to witnesses. 

The novelist, who became an American citizen in 2016, fell to the floor when the suspect attacked him. He was restrained and is now in custody.

Police said the interviewer at the event suffered a minor head injury after also being attacked.

Witness Julia Mineeva Braun told Sky News that as Sir Salman was being introduced "all of a sudden from the left-hand side of the stage a short man, (dressed) all in black, ran out and he approached Mr Rushdie".

"It was very quick... we thought he was fixing his microphone and then we saw the knife. He starting stabbing him in the neck first… and Mr Rushdie got up and started running. After that, people in the audience got up on stage and pinned the attacker down. It's hard to believe. We're still in shock."