Bay State woman indicted in attack on Israel-linked defense contractor

Paige Belanger (Merrimack Police photo)

­­­­­­MERRIMACK - A Hillsborough County Grand Jury has returned indictments against a Bay State woman arrested in a November attack on a defense facility with ties to Israel.

Paige Belanger, 32, of Alford, Mass., was one of four pro-Palestinian protesters arrested in the Nov. 20 attack on Elbit Systems of America in Merrimack.

Belanger is charged with riot, criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, and conspiracy to commit burglary, for her actions in causing property damage to Elbit Systems. Each charge is a class B felony, punishable by 3.5 to 7 years in the state prison.

On the day of the attack Merrimack police said they received calls from employees at the defense contractor around 8 a.m. and were told protestors were blocking the driveway and multiple people were believed to be on the building's roof.

Elbit's parent company -- based in Haifa, Israel -- describes itself as "an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs." The U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, works in defense, homeland security. commercial aviation, medical instruments and more, according to its website.

Belanger's arraignment is set for June 13 in the Hillsborough Superior Court - Southern District.

The charges and allegations against Ms. Belanger are merely accusations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.