The man blamed for cutting essayist Sir Salman Rushdie in 2022 in New York currently faces another charge of supporting a psychological militant gathering.
An indictment that was released on Wednesday stated that Hadi Matar was accused of providing material support to the Hezbollah militant group, which has its headquarters in Lebanon.
The federal charges come just a few weeks after Mr. Matar turned down an offer from prosecutors that would have reduced his prison time if he admitted his guilt.
He is likewise accused of endeavored murder and attack for the 2022 assault which left Mr Rushdie blind in one eye.
Nathaniel Barone, Mr. Matar’s attorney, revealed to the BBC that his client intends to deny the new charges.
Mr. Barone stated, “We plan on zealously and feverishly defending him on these matters,” adding that his client maintains his innocence on all of the charges leveled against him.
Since the attack, he has been held without bail.
Although the indictment stated that Mr. Matar attempted to provide “material support and resources” to Hezbollah despite the fact that he was aware that the organization was a terrorist organization, the document did not specify the evidence that connected him to the organization.
The Arab League, Israel, Gulf Arab nations, and Western nations all classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Although the 26-year-old New Jersey resident told the New York Post from jail that he had watched videos of Sir Salman on YouTube, it is still unclear why he attacked the famous British author. I could do without individuals who are guileful like that.”
Sir Salman recalled Mr. Matar “sprinting up the stairs” and stabbing him 12 times in an interview with the BBC earlier this year.
“I couldn’t have fought him,” he said of the 27-second attack. He was too close for me to run away from.”
He spent six weeks recovering from the attack in the hospital.
“Knife:” Sir Salman’s account of the incident Contemplations After an Endeavored Murder” was delivered recently.
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