JK Rowling has received a chilling death threat from an Islamist extremist after she showed support for Salman Rushdie, 75, after he was attacked on stage in New York.
The 57-year-old Harry Potter was told "you're next" on social media by the the extremist based in Pakistan, who praised Rushdie's attack and pledged allegiance to Iran's theocratic dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Rowling had expressed her horror at the attempt on Rushdie's life on Twitter when she was told that an attempt could be made on her life as well.
The author wrote following the news of Rushdie's stabbing: "Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok".
A supporter of Hadi Matar, who is Rushdie's alleged attacker, then replied to Rowling: "Don't worry you are next."
In response, Rowling has turned to Twitter officials and has asked for support in dealing with the threat and has asked for the account to be removed from the social media site.
Rowling asked on Saturday afternoon: "@TwitterSupport any chance of some support?"
With mounting criticism of the social media site and their policy as to who they remove from the site and who they allow to continue tweeting, Rowling has confirmed that the police are now involved after the threat.
She told her followers: "To all sending supportive messages: thank you. Police are involved (were already involved on other threats)."
Horror writer Stephen King has also joined a plethora of authors who has shared their disbelief at the attack on Rushdie, who was reportedly stabbed up to 15 times at a lecture about free speech.
Rushdie was subjected to death threats from Iran in the 1980s after the publication of his novel, The Satanic Verses, and was about to deliver a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution before the attack, which left him with a stab wound in his neck.
After Rushdie was taken to hospital by helicopter, King took to Twitter and wrote: "I hope Salman Rushdie is okay."
As he was transported to hospital by helicopter, with his condition unclear, a number of authors took to social media to speak of their shock following the 'horrific' incident.
Renowned American author of horror and fantasy novels King added: 'I hope Salman Rushdie is okay.'
Edinburgh International Book Festival director, Nick Barley, was a supporter of Rushdie and he urged others to read his books: "As we open this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival, we send love and best wishes to Salman Rushdie.
"Salman visited us last in 2019 and joined us online last year. We are inspired by his courage and are thinking of him at this difficult time.
"This tragedy is a painful reminder of the fragility of things we hold dear and a call to action: we won't be intimidated by those who would use violence rather than words.
"As a gesture of support and solidarity we are inviting all authors appearing in the adult programme to read a sentence from one of Salman's books at the beginning of their book festival event."
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