Author Salman Rushdie 'stabbed in neck' on lecture stage in New York

Indian-British author Sir Salman Rushdie has suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck and been airlifted to hospital after he was attacked on stage in New York.

Sir Salman, whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked at the Chautauqua Institution on Friday at 11am local time.

A man stormed the stage and began punching or stabbing him 10 to 15 times as he was being introduced, according to an Associated Press reporter.

The writer's condition was not immediately known, but his agent, Andrew Wylie, said he undergoing surgery. He said he had no other details.