Iran’s government is yet to comment on the attack but several of its newspapers have applauded the suspect, who police have identified as 24-year-old Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey.

“A thousand bravos… to the brave and dutiful person who attacked the apostate and evil Salman Rushdie in New York,” the Kayhan newspaper stated. “The hand of the man who tore the neck of God’s enemy must be kissed.”

The Khorasan daily ran with a headline that said “Satan on the path to hell.”