PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria police ruled a device found at the BioUrja Renewables plant a credible threat, and the evacuation for everyone within one mile of the facility remained in effect early Saturday while crews searched the rest of the site, Police Chief Brad Dixon said.
Dixon spoke at a press conference early Saturday morning. He said officers issued the urgent evacuation notice at 7 p.m. after officials set a one-mile blast-radius zone around the plant at 1 Edmund Street.
The plant was formerly the ADM plant. Police listed the case as Incident #26-84403.
“As a precautionary measure, the Peoria Police Department is urging anyone who lives or works within a one-mile radius of the facility to immediately evacuate their homes and businesses until further notice,”
Bomb technicians were called in. They “rendered the package safe” at 9:12 p.m., Dixon said.
That did not clear the rest of the plant. A search for additional threats was launched, and it was still unfinished when Dixon briefed reporters.
“It’s a large facility. There’s going to be an exhaustive search of the facility. That has not been completed yet,” Dixon said, warning Peoria residents the evacuation notice would remain in effect.
Shelter and help for evacuees
People who needed shelter were told to go to Manual Academy, 811 S. Griswold Street, Peoria. Anyone who needed help leaving a home or business was asked to call 309-673-4527 for assistance.
Police urged everyone to stay out of the one-mile area until further notice. Most streets in the area had been closed off, and residents and businesses were asked to cooperate with emergency personnel.
Agencies at the scene
Multiple local, state and federal agencies responded. They included the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Secretary of State, the ATF and the FBI, FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley said at the press conference.
FBI agents were called to the scene after police ruled the device a credible threat, Dixon said.