Sunday 14 August 2022 03:13 AM Knifeman who tried to murder Salman Rushdie kept religious fanaticism secret ... trends now
The 'Iranian sympathizer' accused of trying to murder Sir Salman Rushdie kept his warped fanaticism a secret from his closest friends and family, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Hadi Matar's shellshocked mother and siblings remained holed up in their home in Fairview, New Jersey a day after cops raided the four-bed property looking for clues in the frenzied stabbing of acclaimed author Rushdie, 75.
A close friend told DailyMail.com he trained with Hadi and spent time with his family - but didn't detect the slightest hint of religious extremism.
'He never referenced religion, he never referenced politics. Honestly I would never have known he was even a Muslim before I heard what happened on the news,' the friend said.
Hadi Matar's shellshocked mother, Silvana Fardos, 46, and three siblings remained holed up in their home in Fairview, New Jersey
On Friday, cops raided the four-bed property looking for clues in the frenzied stabbing of acclaimed author Sir Salman Rushdie, 75
Hadi Matar, 24, appeared in court and was charged with attempted murder and second degree assault, after being moved from the New York State Police barracks in Jamestown after the attack on Friday
'He family are just very, very nice people. I don't think they suspected a thing. They certainly didn't know he was going to do this.'
Mom, Silvana Fardos, 46, looked anxious and close to tears as she arrived at her four-bed family home and rushed indoors without saying a word.
Hours later a young male refused to answer questions as he left the $700,000 house carrying two suitcases and drove off in a battered GMC truck.
Asked if his Lebanese-American family had any regrets or sadness over Matar's alleged attack on Rushdie, he told DailyMail.com: 'I don't know him. I don't have to answer your questions.'
A young male refused to answer questions as he left the house carrying two suitcases and drove off in a battered GMC truck
The man said told DailyMail.com: 'I don't know him. I don't have to answer your questions.'
There was an air of tension around the Fairview, New Jersey home following Friday's stabbing
The $700,000 home in Fairview, New Jersey is seen on Saturday
A woman dressed head to toe in black was equally reluctant to speak. She pulled a black hood down over her head and covered her face with a black mask before leaving on foot.
Matar, 24, has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the second degree for Friday's knife rampage with left which Rushdie clinging to life and likely to lose an eye.
Rushdie's life has been under threat since the late Ayatollah Khomeini - leader of Iran's Islamic revolution - issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for his death following publication of The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims condemned as blasphemous.
'I didn't know about any of that before today and I'm very surprised that he did,' added the friend, who asked to remain anonymous.
'He was American, normal. He didn't do
