PEORIA, Ill. —
Officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for Peoria and East Peoria in central Illinois, as they investigate a bomb threat at an ethanol and alcohol production plant.
A suspicious package found at the BioUrja Renewables plant in Peoria Friday afternoon prompted the evacuation order. The evacuation order affected all workers in the plant, as well as all residents living within a mile radius of the facility.
“The evacuation recommendation is being issued out of an abundance of caution while officers and emergency personnel investigate the threat,” Peoria police said in a post on Facebook. “Officers are currently on scene conducting a thorough investigation and search of the facility to determine the credibility of the threat and ensure public safety.”
At 11 p.m. Friday, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said, “A device has been identified. We know it’s a credible threat. We know it’s a bomb. We don’t know whether there are other devices.”
If people don’t have a way to get out of the area, the mayor urged people to call 911 or the local chapter of the American Red Cross, saying public safety mattered. Those traveling in the area may run into backups and delays as a portion of Interstate 74, a major highway covering most of the Midwest, is shut down in central Illinois.
“We are assisting Peoria PD with this threat. Please stay away from downtown Peoria and the riverfront area of East Peoria. I-74 is shut down both ways through the city of Peoria. Use 474 to bypass,” Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said on Facebook.
The evacuation order remains in place overnight, as the city said, “The BioUrja bomb threat in Peoria, Illinois is an ongoing threat. All evacuations will remain in place and another update will come no later than 0900. Public safety personnel in East Peoria remain in constant contact to provide updates and relevant information as available.”
BioUrja Renewables runs the former ADM ethanol plant in Peoria, which is focused on beverage-grade and industrial alcohol. The BioUrja Group company operates 19 other plants around the U.S., and has a global presence with facilities in Mexico, Singapore, Indian, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
