A man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted murder charges.

Hadi Matar, 24, an Iranian sympathizer, appeared in court on Thursday morning in the attack on the 75-year-old Satanic Verses author.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt in the courtroom said of Matar: ‘His mission to kill Mr Rushdie is greater in his mind and outweighs his personal freedom’. He argued that Matar should remain in custody.

Matar is being held without bail.

He previously pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in the attack last Friday.

If convicted on the attempted murder and assault charges, Matar could be sentenced to up to 32 years in prison. He does not have a prior criminal record.

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