A bomb threat at an ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, triggered a one-mile evacuation on Friday evening after a suspicious package was found and later judged to pose a credible threat.
Peoria police said the incident began when BioUrja Renewables, the former ADM plant on Edmund Street, notified officers at about 1.08pm that it had received a bomb threat. A suspicious package was discovered roughly an hour later.
By 6.45pm, authorities had determined that the package represented a credible danger. Residents and workers within a one-mile radius were ordered to leave the area as police and emergency crews established a security perimeter.
A bomb technician rendered the package safe at about 9.12pm, according to Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon. However, the facility had not been cleared, and officers continued searching the large site for any further devices.
Police urged people to remain outside the evacuation zone while the investigation continued. An emergency shelter was opened at Manual Academy on South Griswold Street, where around 75 people were reported to have spent the night.
Interstate 74 was reopened, but several roads around the BioUrja plant remained closed. The evacuation area included parts of downtown Peoria, the Warehouse District and nearby sections of East Peoria.
The FBI, Illinois State Police, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, the Peoria Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all assisted with the response.
“We understand that this is a disruptive process for our residents and guests,” Chief Dixon said. “We’re asking for the public’s patience while we work to make this area safe.”
The FBI said it was working alongside local and state agencies to identify whoever was responsible for the threat. No suspect or motive had been announced.
