WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • A credible bomb threat at the BioUrja Renewables plant triggered an evacuation within a 1 mile radius of the Peoria facility.
  • Bomb technicians made the suspicious package safe at 9:12 p.m., but authorities continued searching the large plant for additional threats.
  • Local, state and federal agencies responded, including Illinois State Police, the ATF and the FBI.
  • No suspect or motive was publicly identified, and nearby factories told third shift employees not to report to work.

A bomb threat at an ethanol plant forced officials to order a large evacuation across part of Peoria, Illinois, on Friday night. Authorities were still searching the sprawling facility early Saturday morning after bomb technicians made the initial suspicious package safe, as reported by The New York Post.

The package was discovered at the BioUrja Renewables plant shortly after 1 p.m. Friday. About an hour later, Peoria police determined that the device represented a credible threat, Police Chief Brad Dixon said during a press conference early Saturday morning.

FBI agents were called to the scene as authorities assessed the package and the potential danger surrounding the plant. Officials ultimately established a blast radius extending 1 mile from the facility.

An urgent evacuation notice was issued for that area at 7 p.m. The order applied to people living or working within the designated radius and instructed them to leave immediately.

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“As a precautionary measure, the Peoria Police Department is urging anyone who lives or works within a one-mile radius of the facility to immediately evacuate their homes and businesses until further notice,” city officials said.

Bomb technicians responded to handle the suspicious device. At 9:12 p.m., they “rendered the package safe,” according to officials.

That development did not immediately end the evacuation order because authorities had not yet cleared the remainder of the plant. Investigators launched a search for any additional threats that might have been present inside the facility.

Dixon said the size of the plant meant the search would require substantial time and attention. He also warned residents that the evacuation notice would remain active while law enforcement personnel continued working through the property.

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“It’s a large facility. There’s going to be an exhaustive search of the facility. That has not been completed yet,” Dixon said.

The response brought together multiple agencies from the local, state, and federal levels. Illinois State Police, the Illinois Secretary of State, the ATF and the FBI were among those responding to the threat.

FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley discussed the combined response during the early Saturday morning press conference. He did not identify any suspects or disclose a possible motive behind the bomb threat.

Presley said investigators and their partner agencies were actively working to determine who was responsible. He also warned that the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators would be “brought to justice.”

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“We are currently investigating this incident with all of our partners. While it is early in this investigation, know this: we will work tirelessly to identify the individual responsible and bring them to justice,” Presley said.

The BioUrja Renewables facility was formerly known as the ADM plant. According to the company, the facility distills ethanol alcohol used for spirit beverages, hand sanitizers, and adhesives.

The plant is located on the west bank of the Illinois River, only blocks from the Downtown Peoria Historic District. Its location placed the evacuation zone near other industrial operations and businesses in the surrounding area.

Nearby factories adjusted their operations because of the evacuation order. The Caterpillar plant across the river told workers assigned to the third shift not to report Friday night into Saturday, according to 25NewsNow.

“Due to guidance from local officials on the safety situation in downtown Peoria, employees should not report for third shift. Please follow local law enforcement guidance on this developing situation,” the company said.

Authorities continued the facility search after the initial package was made safe. With no suspect or motive publicly identified, the investigation remained active as Peoria residents and workers waited for officials to lift the evacuation order.