—Kerry Hill, B1Daily

PEORIA, Illinois — A bomb threat at a major ethanol production facility sent residents fleeing their homes Friday evening, triggering a massive emergency response involving local police, federal agents, and explosives specialists.

The incident unfolded at the BioUrja Renewables plant along the Illinois River after authorities received a threat Friday afternoon. Investigators subsequently discovered a suspicious device that officials classified as a credible danger, prompting evacuation warnings covering a one-mile radius of the facility.

The evacuation affected portions of downtown Peoria, the Southside, and the Warehouse District, extending across the Illinois River into East Peoria. Authorities established temporary shelters while emergency crews searched the sprawling industrial complex for additional threats.

A Dangerous Discovery at a Highly Combustible Facility

The situation became particularly alarming because the BioUrja facility stores ethanol and other combustible materials. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali warned that the chemicals present at the plant significantly increased the potential consequences of an explosion.

Bomb technicians neutralized the suspicious device Friday evening, but authorities maintained evacuation restrictions overnight while searching the remainder of the property.

The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Illinois State Police, and local emergency responders participated in the investigation.

Evacuation Order Lifted After Extensive Search

By Saturday afternoon, authorities completed their search without discovering additional suspicious devices. The evacuation order was lifted at approximately 1 p.m., allowing displaced residents to return home.

Police Chief Brad Dixon said investigators were still determining the device’s composition. Although officials initially described the discovery as a bomb, investigators had not publicly confirmed its precise nature.

The emergency also disrupted downtown businesses, public facilities, and entertainment events. Authorities temporarily restricted traffic along the Illinois River while conducting their investigation.

No injuries were reported, and no arrests had been announced as of Saturday afternoon.

Federal Investigation Continues

Although the immediate danger has passed, investigators are now attempting to determine who was responsible for the threat and why the ethanol facility was targeted.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive or identified a suspect. Federal officials also declined to characterize the incident as terrorism while the criminal investigation remains active.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of industrial facilities where combustible materials can transform a localized security threat into a potentially serious public-safety emergency.

For Peoria residents, the evacuation has ended. For federal investigators, the search for answers is only beginning.

—Kerry Hill, B1Daily