A real bomb found at an ethanol plant in Peoria, Ill., forced everyone within a mile to leave, because the plant holds ethanol and other highly combustible chemicals.
Story Highlights
- Police say a bomb was found at the BioUrja Renewables ethanol plant in Peoria on Friday, November 13.
- Everyone within one mile was ordered out, in parts of Peoria and East Peoria; more than 5,000 people were reportedly evacuated.
- Bomb technicians made the device safe at about 9:12 p.m. Friday, and the search for other devices went on into Saturday.
- The FBI is working to find whoever is responsible; no arrest had been reported as of Saturday morning.
A Bomb at an Ethanol Plant and a One-Mile Evacuation
On Friday, November 13, police in Peoria, Ill., found a bomb at the BioUrja Renewables plant, a large ethanol plant on the Illinois River that was once owned by ADM. Officials ordered everyone living or working within one mile to get out. The reason was what the plant holds. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said it is “a plant that has ethanol and highly combustible types of chemicals, and so that’s what alarms us.” Ethanol is the alcohol blended into gasoline, and its vapor can catch fire and explode.
Officials were plain about what they found. “We know it’s a credible threat. We know it’s a bomb,” Ali said. The evacuation zone covered parts of downtown Peoria and the Warehouse District and reached across the river into East Peoria. More than 5,000 residents and workers were moved out, according to reports. Highway ramps into Peoria were closed for a time, and a shelter opened at Manual Academy, where about 75 people spent the night.
How Friday Unfolded
Police Chief Brad Dixon laid out the timeline. At about 1:08 p.m. Friday, BioUrja called police about a bomb threat. Around 2 p.m., a suspicious package was found at the plant. By 6:45 p.m., authorities had judged the threat credible and set a one-mile “blast radius,” the area that could be harmed if a bomb went off. Evacuation alerts went out at about 7:02 p.m.
At about 9:12 p.m., bomb technicians “rendered safe” the device, the bomb squad’s term for making it harmless. That did not end the danger. Dixon said only the package had been made safe, not the BioUrja site around it. Officers began an exhaustive search of the large plant for any other devices.
Where Things Stood on Saturday
Shortly after midnight on Saturday, November 14, Dixon told reporters, “This is a credible threat. We need to take the blast radius seriously.” He said the evacuation would likely last into Saturday afternoon. As of Saturday morning, the one-mile order was still in effect, crews were still searching the plant for other bombs and evidence, and no injuries had been reported.
Police have not named a suspect or released a motive, and no arrest had been reported as of Saturday morning. Dixon declined to discuss details of the investigation. “We’re asking for the public’s patience while we work to make this area safe,” he said.
The Search for the Person Responsible
The FBI’s Springfield office and the ATF, the federal agency that handles explosives cases, joined Peoria police, firefighters, the county sheriff and Illinois State Police. “We will work tirelessly to identify the individual responsible and bring them to justice,” said the FBI’s lead agent on the case.
Most bomb threats turn out to be hoaxes. This one did not, and that is why officials moved so many people so fast. A plant full of fuel sits close to homes, businesses and the river. Residents who left on short notice gave the bomb squad room to work, and the people who protect Peoria are working to find out who put that bomb there.
Sources:
townhall.com, x.com, cbsnews.com, edition.cnn.com, wcbu.org, yahoo.com, kcra.com, news-gazette.com, abc57.com, 25newsnow.com