Peoria Police Lift Evacuation Order After Bomb Found at Ethanol Plant

Peoria Police Department officials lifted an evacuation order on Saturday, allowing residents to return to their homes near the BioUrja Renewables facility along the Illinois River. The order had required people within a one-mile radius of the ethanol plant to leave their homes following the discovery of a bomb.

Law enforcement agencies from the state, federal, and local levels completed a search of the area on Saturday. The Peoria Police Department stated on its Facebook account that the search found no other items of concern. All roads in the affected area are now open, and the investigation into the incident continues.

The timeline of the event began on Friday afternoon when a bomb was discovered at the facility. Police reported that the device was rendered safe. Authorities then established a one-mile evacuation zone while they assessed the threat. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali told WMBD-TV on Friday that the plant contains ethanol and highly combustible chemicals, which raised concerns for officials.

FBI Special Agent Ryan Presley said his agency is leading the investigation. He declined to provide further details about the device or the suspect. Presley stated, “We will work tirelessly to identify the individual responsible and bring them to justice.” No arrests have been made, and no injuries were reported in the incident.

Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon acknowledged the disruption caused to residents and guests in the area. He asked the public for patience while officers work to ensure the safety of the neighborhood. Dixon noted that while bomb threats and suspicious package calls are common, officials take every claim seriously to determine its credibility.

The BioUrja Renewables facility is located in Peoria, a city with a population of approximately 110,000 situated about 150 miles southwest of Chicago. The company acquired the ethanol plant in 2021. The incident follows a series of bomb threats in Europe earlier this week, which led to flight diversions and military escorts for passengers before officials declared the threats to be malicious hoaxes.