Bomb found at Peoria ethanol plant; mile-wide evacuation continues as crews search for more devices
File photo: Google Maps / World GrainAuthorities found an explosive device at the BioUrja Renewables ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, on Friday, triggering a mile-wide evacuation that remained in effect into Saturday as bomb squads searched the sprawling facility for additional devices.
BioUrja notified Peoria police of a bomb threat at about 1:08 p.m. Friday, Police Chief Brad Dixon said. A suspicious package was received at the plant, at 1 Edmund St. near the Illinois River, at about 2 p.m. By 6:45 p.m., authorities had determined the package was a credible threat, and at about 7:02 p.m. evacuation notices went out to everyone living or working within a one-mile radius — covering parts of downtown Peoria and across the river in East Peoria.
Bomb technicians rendered the device safe at about 9:15 p.m. Friday, but the plant itself was not cleared. "It's a large facility. There's going to be an exhaustive search of the facility. That has not been completed yet," Dixon said at a news conference early Saturday morning, warning that the evacuation order would remain in effect.
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali confirmed late Friday that the device was real. "A device has been identified. We know it's a credible threat. We know it's a bomb," Ali said. Dixon stressed that residents should not take the order lightly. "Typically, when a bomb threat comes in, it's not legitimate. This is not the case," he said. "Take the blast radius serious. We're asking you to get out of the blast radius."
Multiple local, state and federal agencies responded, including the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Secretary of State, the ATF and the FBI. Ryan Presley, special agent in charge of the FBI's Springfield field office, said federal agents were asked to assist Peoria police and are working alongside multiple law enforcement agencies. No suspect or motive has been identified. "We will work to identify the individual responsible," Presley said, adding that those responsible would be "brought to justice."
The evacuation disrupted much of the area. Interstate 74 was shut down in both directions through Peoria on Friday evening, though it had reopened by Saturday morning, with numerous road closures still in place around the plant. About 75 people were staying at the emergency shelter at Manual Academy, 811 S. Griswold St., as of early Saturday morning, with the American Red Cross providing beds; EastSide Centre serves as the shelter for East Peoria. Nearby factories, including the Caterpillar plant across the river, told third-shift workers not to report Friday night. The Peoria Civic Center building itself sits outside the one-mile radius, but its parking lots are inside it, Dixon said.
The BioUrja facility, formerly the Archer Daniels Midland plant, distills ethanol alcohol for spirits, hand sanitizers and adhesives. BioUrja purchased the site from ADM in late 2021. Police plan another update around noon Saturday, and officials said evacuations are likely to continue into Saturday afternoon while the search goes on. Residents and businesses inside the one-mile radius are urged to stay out of the area until authorities say it is safe to return.
Sources: New York Post, "Bomb threat at Illinois ethanol plant forces mandatory mile-wide evacuation order" (Nov. 14, 2026, full text verified); 25News Now, "Peoria Police: Explosive device rendered safe at BioUrja, evacuations to continue Saturday" (Nov. 14, 2026, full text verified).
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