Evacuation Zone Lifted Following Bomb Discovery at Illinois Ethanol Facility

Residents of a Peoria-area community were evacuated Friday after authorities discovered a bomb at a local ethanol and alcohol-production plant.

The discovery at BioUrja Renewables in Peoria triggered a mandatory one-mile evacuation zone covering parts of Peoria and East Peoria. Officials lifted the zone Saturday at approximately 1:25 pm after confirming the device was an actual bomb and ruling out additional explosives.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali emphasized the credibility of the threat, stating, ‘It is real – this is a real thing. We know that is a real threat. We know it is a bomb.’

Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon confirmed at a Saturday morning news conference that explosives technicians had safely rendered the device.

Dixon urged the public to remain patient as investigators searched BioUrja Renewables’ extensive facility for additional explosive devices, WEEK reported.

Mayor Ali added, ‘We don’t know if there are other devices.’

Ryan Presley of the FBI’s Springfield field office vowed to pursue those responsible tirelessly and bring them to justice.

No arrests had been announced at the time, with authorities pledging updates as the investigation progressed.

By 7:05 pm Friday, the Peoria Police Department had announced an active bomb threat at BioUrja Renewables, urging anyone living or working within a one-mile radius to evacuate immediately until further notice.

The evacuation order had been issued out of an abundance of caution while investigators treated the item as a suspicious package. The city made Manual Academy available as a temporary shelter, and police offered assistance to those needing help evacuating.

Police noted that most streets in the affected area had been closed off.

East Peoria’s municipal government acknowledged the evacuation zone extended into part of its city, and the restriction remained in effect as of 9 am Saturday.

A Saturday hockey game and dance-themed charity event were delayed, WEEK reported.

Organizers canceled the Saturday portion of a Comic Con event originally planned to run through Sunday.

Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler stressed the gravity of the situation, stating, ‘This is not a hoax. This has gone beyond that – this is serious.’

Peoria police reported that state, federal, and local law enforcement had completed an extensive search of the BioUrja Renewables facility, finding no other items of concern at this time.

Authorities confirmed the Friday evacuation order was lifted, and previously closed streets were reopened. ‘Residents are now free to return to their homes in the affected area,’ police added.

Law enforcement routinely receive bomb threat and suspicious package calls, taking each seriously during investigation, though many are not ultimately verified as credible or substantial.

The BioUrja Renewables incident occurred amid a chaotic day in the U.S., which included a nationwide Federal Aviation Administration-grounded stop at airports lasting approximately four hours, canceling or delaying over 11,000 flights.

The country was further unsettled by a Friday afternoon collision between a tanker and a cruise ship docked on the Mississippi River in New Orleans. First responders rescued passengers from the water after the vessel listing; over 30 injuries were reported, none critical, and no fatalities were associated with the crash.

Source link