A serious incident occurred last Friday, November 13, at the BioUrja Renewables ethanol plant located in Peoria, Illinois. Following a suspicious “bomb” threat, law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the facility, ultimately lifting the evacuation order around 1 PM on Saturday, November 14. Residents were permitted to return to their homes, although the investigation remains ongoing.
According to Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon, the search team began their investigation at the factory at 1 Edmund St. early Saturday morning around 7 AM. After examining the suspicious device reported on Friday, they found no additional questionable items, leading to the decision to revoke the evacuation order that affected thousands of people living within a one-mile radius of the plant.
During a news conference on Saturday evening, Chief Dixon referred to the threat using the term “credible threat,” avoiding the phrase “explosive device.” He explained that law enforcement follows specific protocols when assessing the nature of a bomb threat, a process which is still underway. Earlier, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali publicly labeled the object in question as a “bomb.”
Chief Dixon indicated that a criminal investigation is still active but did not provide any specific details about suspects or the items found at the scene. He noted that the complexities of the facility made the search challenging; its structure is quite intricate and spans an area comparable to around 44 and a half American football fields, which increased the difficulty of the investigation.
The operation saw collaboration from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Their assistance included providing bomb disposal technicians, explosives experts, intelligence resources, police dogs, and trainers, all contributing to tracking down the individuals responsible for the threat.
When questioned regarding the security measures at the plant, any potential links to terrorism, or whether BioUrja was deliberately targeted, officials refrained from providing comments. As of the time of this report, no injuries had been reported and no arrests made.
Notably, the facility stores ethanol and highly flammable chemicals, prompting Mayor Ali to express her concerns on Friday.
Chief Dixon detailed that BioUrja Renewables alerted the police about a bomb threat via electronic communication at 1:08 PM on Friday. Officers swiftly responded to the scene to investigate and search the facility. By around 2 PM, a suspicious package was located, prompting reinforcements to examine it closely.
Around 6:45 PM, authorities classified the package as a “credible threat,” marking a one-mile radius around the facility as the potential blast zone. Evacuation orders were subsequently issued to residents in the affected area around 7 PM. This evacuation zone included parts of downtown Peoria and the Southside, extending across the Illinois River into East Peoria.
By 9:12 PM on Friday, the suspicious device was safely rendered harmless, and the evacuation order remained in place until 1 PM on Saturday, as police assessed possible additional hazards.
During the evacuation, several bridges in Peoria and Interstate 74 were temporarily closed, shipping on the Illinois River was suspended, and numerous events including performances at the Peoria Civic Center, Peoria Rivermen games, and the Festival of Lights at Laura Bradley Park were either canceled or postponed.
Many evacuees from the broader area took refuge at Manual High School, which had been designated by the city as a temporary shelter.
BioUrja Renewables acquired the facility from Archer Daniels Midland Company, which had operated it since 1982, in October 2021. The company, a subsidiary of a Texas-based corporation, focuses on the production of biofuels, petroleum products, and animal feed.
The resolution of this incident highlights the serious nature of threats involving hazardous materials and the diligent response by law enforcement and community officials. As investigations continue, the safety of the facility and its surrounding areas remains a primary concern for local authorities and the residents of Peoria.