Peoria police responded to a bomb threat at BioUrja Renewables on Friday, Nov. 13

NEED TO KNOW

• Authorities evacuated a one-mile radius around BioUrja Renewables in Peoria after finding a “suspicious package” on Friday, Nov. 13
• Authorities later rendered the device safe, but police said the sprawling facility still requires an exhaustive search
• No suspects have been identified at this time, according to police

An evacuation was issued after authorities detected a credible bomb threat at an ethanol plant in Illinois.

On Friday, Nov. 13, police were alerted to a “suspicious package” at the BioUrja Renewables facility in Peoria, prompting an evacuation within a one-mile blast radius of the area, CNN, NBC News and ABC News reported. 

Police Chief Brad Dixon said at a press conference, per WMBD News, “BioUrja notified Peoria police that they had received a bomb threat and asked for assistance … a suspicious package was located [an hour later].

“At around 6:45 p.m., a determination was made and the packages were deemed a credible threat. A blast radius was [then] determined at one mile from the Biorja facility,” he added.

Dixon said an evacuation order was sent to people living and working nearby following the discovery. Shelter facilities were set up at Manual Academy High School in Peoria.

Dixon said the packages were “rendered safe” at 9:12 p.m, but emphasized, “the area of BioUrja has not been rendered safe, just the package that was on scene.”

“It’s a large facility; there’s going to be an exhaustive search of the facility. That has not been completed yet,” Dixon said.

The Peoria Police Department (PPD) was assisted at the scene by the FBI, Peoria Fire Department, the Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“Our office was requested to assist the PPD with a suspicious package at BioUrja Renewables. [We] worked together to determine the suspicious package was a threat and rendered it safe,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley at the press conference. “We are currently investigating this incident with all of our partners.”

Authorities have not shared details about any potential suspects at this time.

Dixon said a country music concert with around 2,000 attendees was canceled due to the bomb threat.

“We understand that this is a disruptive process for our residents and guests. We’re asking for the public’s patience while we work to make this area safe,” he said.

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The ISP has urged the public to continue to avoid the area in a post on X, writing, “ISP is providing support to the PPD and restricting traffic to the downtown area to maintain a safe perimeter as they investigate a threat. Please stay away from the area at this time.”

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said there has been an “all hands on deck” response following the evacuation.

“A device has been identified. We know it’s a credible threat. We know it’s a bomb,” she said, per NBC News.

PEOPLE has reached out to the ISP, PPD, BioUrja Renewables, and the FBI for further comment.

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