A bomb threat at an ethanol plant triggered a large-scale evacuation in parts of Peoria, Illinois, on Friday night as authorities worked to neutralize what they described as a credible threat.
The suspicious package was found at the BioUrja Renewables facility shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.
Peoria police determined about an hour later that the device posed a credible threat, prompting FBI agents to respond, Police Chief Brad Dixon said during a news conference early Saturday.
Officials established a one-mile blast-radius zone and issued an urgent evacuation order for the area at 7 p.m.
“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 arrived and “rendered the package safe” at 9:12 p.m.
However, the plant itself had not yet been fully cleared, and authorities began searching the facility for any additional threats.
“It’s a large facility. There’s going to be an exhaustive search of the facility. That has not been completed yet,” Dixon said, adding that the evacuation order would remain in effect.
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Several local, state and federal agencies responded, including the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Secretary of State, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, said Ryan Presley, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Springfield Field Office.
Presley did not identify a suspect or disclose a possible motive, but said those responsible would be “brought to justice.”
“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 facility, formerly known as the ADM plant, produces ethanol alcohol used in spirit beverages, hand sanitizers and adhesives, according to the company.
The facility is located on the west bank of the Illinois River, just blocks from Peoria’s Downtown Historic District.
Nearby factories, including the Caterpillar plant across the river, instructed third-shift workers not to report for duty Friday night into Saturday because of the evacuation order, 25NewsNow reported.
“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.
