Scotland's police investigate threat made to JK Rowling after Rushdie tweet


  • World
  • Sunday, 14 Aug 2022

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Scotland vs England - BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Britain - February 24, 2018 Author JK Rowling in the stand before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland's police said on Sunday they are investigating a report of an "online threat" made to the author JK Rowling after she tweeted her condemnation of the stabbing of Salman Rushdie.

The Harry Potter creator said she felt "very sick" after hearing the news and hoped the novelist would "be OK".

In response, a user said "don't worry you are next"

After sharing screenshots of the threatening tweet, Rowling said: "To all sending supportive messages: thank you police are involved (were already involved on other threats)".

A spokeswoman for Scotland's police said: "We have received a report of an online threat being made and officers are carrying out enquiries."

Rushdie, 75, was set to deliver a lecture on artistic freedom on Friday in western New York when a man 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 Muslims to kill him.

Following hours of surgery, Rushdie was on a ventilator and unable to speak as of Friday evening. The novelist was likely to lose an eye and had nerve damage in his arm and wounds to his liver.

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.

Rowling has in the past been criticised by trans activists who have accused her of transphobia.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Four dead in UAE, Dubai airport still disrupted after storm
Spain's Basque separatist party Bildu could win regional ballot
Nigerian airstrike killed 33 villagers during Eid, witnesses say
Police arrest man in Paris Iran consulate incident - source
Ukraine downs Russian strategic bomber after airstrike kills eight, Kyiv says
Ecuador set to vote to approve raft of security measures in Sunday referendum
Ukraine's Zelenskiy visits frontline Donetsk region
Trump uses hush money trial to squeeze small donors, court big spenders
Trump's Stormy Daniels payoff trial hinges on his intent
Trump criminal hush-money trial aims to complete jury selection

Others Also Read