Xu Lai being carried out of the One Way Street bookstore in Beijing after being stabbed during a reading.

Prominent Chinese blogger, novelist, and newspaper reporter Xu Lai, known for his provocative and antiestablishment writings, was stabbed while giving a reading at a popular bookstore in Beijing yesterday. According to a report in The Times of London by Jane Macartney, “He had been speaking for a couple of hours and was answering questions when a fracas erupted. His wife said that two men forced Xu Lai into the men’s toilet. She chased after them and found that one was holding a vegetable knife and the other a dagger. The men escaped, leaving Xu Lai on the ground with a cut to his stomach.” A New York Times story by Andrew Jacobs reports the attackers announced they were “here to take revenge,” and threatened to cut off Xu Lai’s hand — presumeably meaning his writing hand — before being chased away. While China has reportedly been less censorious of bloggers than newspapers — and it is Xu Lai’s blogging for which he is best known — Jacobs reports “the bold assault stirred fears and a flurry of rumors. Some people suggested the attack may have stemmed from Mr. Xu’s writings, many of which take swipes at government corruption or poke fun at the ruling Communist Party.” His injuries are reported not to be life-threatening.