MERRIMACK, NH - Merrimack Police responded to Elbit Systems of America on Daniel Webster Highway March 22, 2024 for a report of protestors blocking the entrance to the facility.

Police arrived at about 6:20 a.m. and found two people chained to a car blocking the entrance with one person inside the car. Four people were attached to tires chained to themselves and the tires were filled with metal and cement.

Merrimack Police called for the assistance of New Hampshire State Police, and the Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit comprised of 16 towns. Merrimack Fire and EMS responded to the area also according to police.

Merrimack Police Chief Brian Levesque said that with the protestors blocking the entrance it prevented employees and any emergency personnel from entering the property with vehicles.

About two dozen supporters carrying pro-Palestinian flags, banners and signs cheered, chanted and sang as the police worked to remove the people blocking the entrance. State police advised the supporters to leave the private property and to move to the street which was not private property or face being arrested for trespassing. One supporter demanded police provide a ASL interpreter even though she appeared to understand the troopers commands.

Chief Levesque said that over 70 members of law enforcement, fire and EMS were at the scene bringing a large drain from community resources.

Two of the people attached to the car had cut holes in the doors of the vehicle, placed their arms through the holes and chained themselves. One person in the car had what was described as multiple restraints and chains preventing her from being removed.

After several hours the state police bomb squad checked the vehicle for explosives and then law enforcement used different techniques to disconnect the people from the vehicle.

The people attached to the tires were cut from the tires one by one and taken into custody.

A total of seven people were taken into custody at the scene