Hezbollah media briefly reported on the stabbing of novelist Salman Rushdie, who was attacked in New York on Friday.
As of Saturday night, the Iran-backed party has yet to comment on the incident.
Hezbollah supporters, however, hailed the attack on social media, accompanying posts about it with the hashtag “holy stabbing”. They also lauded the assailant as a “hero”.
The accused attacker, 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault at a court appearance on Saturday.
Rushdie, 75, was set to deliver a lecture on artistic freedom at Chautauqua Institution in western New York when police say Matar rushed the stage and stabbed the Indian-born writer, who has lived with a bounty on his head since his 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses” prompted Iran to urge his killing.
Rushdie remained hospitalized on Saturday with serious injuries while police sought to determine the motive behind the attack that drew international condemnation.
An official Lebanese source said Matar is of Lebanese origins, but he was born and raised in the United States.
He hails from the town of Yaroun bordering Israel.
Yaroun municipal chief Ali Tehfe said Matar’s parents hail from the town. His father still resides there, while his mother lives in the US.
The locals are following the news of the stabbing, but none of them have ever met Matar, he revealed.
Matar holds Lebanese nationality and had previously visited Lebanon.
Local media said his parents are divorced and used to live in California. His family rarely visits Lebanon, they added.
