Bomb threat at Peoria ethanol plant leads to large evacuation

A bomb threat at an ethanol plant in Peoria forced thousands of people to leave their homes and businesses late Friday.

Police received a report of a suspicious package at BioUrja Renewables at 1:08 p.m. Friday. The facility is located at 1 Edmund Street in South Peoria.

Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon said bomb technicians arrived at the scene and rendered the package safe just after 9 p.m. Friday.

Dixon described the package as a credible bomb threat. He said investigators continued searching the large facility for other explosive devices into the early hours of Saturday.

The evacuation order went into effect at 7:02 p.m. Friday. Police urged anyone living or working within a one-mile radius of the plant to evacuate until further notice.

Most streets in the affected area were closed to traffic. Officers remained on scene to search the facility and ensure public safety.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali addressed reporters at 12:40 a.m. Saturday. She spoke from Manual Academy on South Griswold Street, which served as an evacuation shelter.

Ali confirmed that a device had been identified. She stated, “A device has been identified. We know it’s a credible threat. We know it’s a bomb.”

The mayor said officials did not yet know if other devices were present. She asked the public to be patient while investigators completed their work.

Ryan Presley, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Springfield office, joined the investigation. He said investigators would work tirelessly to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

Presley declined to provide specific details about the suspect or the method of the attack.

About 70 people were housed in the shelter at Manual Academy early Saturday morning. City officials designated EastSide Centre as the shelter for residents of East Peoria who needed to leave their homes as well. East Peoria’s government reported that evacuations there would remain in effect through the morning update scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday. Peoria police planned another briefing at noon Saturday. Employers in downtown Peoria adjusted their schedules in response to the safety guidance. Caterpillar told employees not to report for the third shift on Friday night. The company said staff should follow local law enforcement guidance on the developing situation. OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center released a statement saying it was taking all appropriate precautions. The hospital said it was working closely with local authorities to maintain a safe environment for patients and staff. OSF Life Flight said its emergency medical helicopters and radio communications were not affected by the threat. The service stated it would continue providing safe transportation to hospitals and agencies in the area.