A bomb discovered near an industrial building in Peoria, Illinois, forced everyone within a one-mile radius to immediately evacuate, authorities said.
Peoria police said a suspicious package was discovered near a BioUrja ethanol plant around 2 p.m. Friday and hours later was determined to be a “credible threat.”
“Notifications were sent out with an evacuation order within the one-mile blast radius” of the BioUrja facility, Police Chief Brad Dixon said Saturday morning.
Dixon added that the package was “made safe” at 9:12 p.m., but searches continued for other possible devices throughout the area.
“The BioUrja area was not secured, just the package that was there. It’s a large facility, there will be an exhaustive search,” he said at a press conference.
FBI Special Agent Ryan Presley told reporters his office has deployed personnel to work alongside the Peoria Police Department, Peoria Fire Department, Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois Secretary of State’s Office and the Illinois State Police.
“We are currently investigating this incident with all of our partners. Although it is early in the investigation, please know this: we will work tirelessly to identify the individual responsible and bring them to justice,” Presley said.
Governor Pritzker said on social media: “I am actively monitoring the bomb threat in Peoria and have asked the Illinois State Police to coordinate with local authorities. »
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said in an interview with WMBD News on Friday that the facility is “a plant that contains ethanol and highly combustible types of chemicals, and so that’s what we’re concerned about.”
Country music singer Jon Pardi had to cancel his concert because it was in the area, saying: “Peoria, we’re disappointed we won’t be able to spend this night with you…”
In a Facebook post, the Peoria Police Department advised those in need of shelter to go to the nearby Manual Academy.
Peoria is located in central Illinois, approximately 75 miles north of Springfield and 150 miles southwest of Chicago. The BioUrja plant is located along the Illinois River in the southern part of the city.
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