Evacuation lifted after bomb threat near Peoria ethanol plant
Police declared a suspicious package near the BioUrja ethanol facility safe, ending a one-mile radius evacuation and allowing residents and businesses to return.
An evacuation order covering a one-mile radius around the BioUrja ethanol plant in East Peoria was lifted Saturday at 1:00 p.m. local time, permitting residents to return home and businesses to resume normal operations.
Police discovered the suspicious package near the plant around 2:00 p.m. on Friday and classified the threat as credible. The device was rendered safe at 9:12 p.m., though officials said the broader facility had not yet been cleared and a thorough search was ongoing.
Police Chief Brad Dixon told a press conference that investigators have not yet determined the nature of the device and that the inquiry remains active. The Peoria Police Department, in coordination with the FBI, Peoria Fire Department, Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office and Illinois State Police, continued the investigation.
FBI Special Agent Ryan Presley said his agency deployed personnel to work with local partners and pledged to identify the individual responsible. Governor J.B. Pritzker said he was monitoring the situation and had directed the Illinois State Police to coordinate with local authorities.
Mayor Rita Ali noted the plant handles ethanol and highly combustible chemicals, underscoring the seriousness of the threat. The police department advised anyone needing shelter to use the nearby Manual Academy.