Dramatic moment hero audience tackled 'knifeman as he stabbed Salman Rushdie'

This is the moment dozens of brave audience members leapt on stage to tackle a knifeman to the ground as he allegedly tried to murder Salman Rushdie.

The Indian-born British novelist was stabbed 15 times across the head and body as he was being introduced to give a lecture on stage in at The Chautauqua Institution, in New York on Friday.

Sir Salman may lose an eye and suffered nerve damage, while his suspected attacker, Hadi Matar, 24, from Fairview, New Jersey, has been charged with assault and attempted murder.

But in the immediate moments after launching his attack, shocked audience members sprung into action and threw the knifeman to the ground.