Peoria Evacuation Stays in Place After Bomb Found at Ethanol Plant: What We Know

Police in Peoria, Illinois, ordered everyone within one mile of an ethanol plant to leave on Friday evening over a bomb threat. Investigators found a device at the plant that the city’s mayor called a bomb.

Bomb technicians rendered the device safe, officials said. But police are still searching the large plant, and the evacuation order remained in effect as of 7 a.m. CT Saturday, according to local reports. This is a developing story.

Key points:

• The threat was at BioUrja Renewables, the former ADM plant at 1 Edmund Street in Peoria.
• Everyone within a one-mile radius was told to leave “until further notice.”
• Officials have not said what the device was or who placed it.
• Officials have not reported any injuries or arrests.

What Happened?

BioUrja notified police of a threat at 1:08 p.m. Friday, WEEK-TV reported. At 7:02 p.m., Peoria police ordered an evacuation around the plant and closed most streets in the area.

“A device has been identified. We know it’s a credible threat. We know it’s a bomb,” Peoria Mayor Rita Ali told WEEK. She added that officials did not yet know whether there were other devices.

Police Chief Brad Dixon said the search was not finished. “There’s going to be an exhaustive search of the facility that has not been completed yet,” he told reporters, according to NBC News.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley declined to give details but said investigators would work “tirelessly” to find who is responsible.

What We Don’t Know

Officials have not said what kind of device was found, how many devices there may be, or how the threat was made. They have also not said when people can return home.

The same plant made news in May 2022, when a grain bin exploded there, Peoria Public Radio reported.

What Residents Should Know

• Shelters: Manual Academy, 811 S. Griswold St., in Peoria, and the EastSide Centre in East Peoria. About 70 people stayed at Manual Academy overnight, Dixon said.
• Roads: Most streets within the evacuation zone are closed.
• Events: A Jon Pardi concert at the Peoria Civic Center was canceled at the police chief’s direction, and Caterpillar told employees not to report for Friday’s third shift.
• Advice: Gov. JB Pritzker urged residents to “follow directions from law enforcement and stay clear of the area.”

What Happens Next?

Peoria police planned another briefing at noon on Saturday, WEEK reported. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Sources:

• NBC News: Device deemed ‘credible threat’ triggers evacuation around ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois
• WEEK 25 News Now: Evacuation order still in effect as investigators search for other explosives at Peoria’s BioUrja plant
• WEEK 25 News Now: Peoria Police releases immediate evacuation warning
• Peoria Public Radio (2022): Grain bin explodes at BioUrja ethanol plant

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