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Evacuation lifted after FBI, ATF search of Illinois ethanol plant over powerful bomb

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Summary

  • A powerful device was found near the BioUrja Renewables ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, on 13 November 2026, prompting a one-mile-radius evacuation of parts of Peoria and East Peoria.
  • The plant reported a bomb threat to Peoria police at about 1:08 p.m. on 13 November; the suspicious package was found by 2 p.m. and deemed a credible bomb hours later.
  • Bomb technicians rendered the device safe by 9:12 p.m. on 13 November, and the evacuation order was lifted and road barricades removed on 14 November.
  • State and federal officers, including FBI and ATF explosives experts, searched the large plant and found nothing of concern; the criminal investigation is ongoing.
  • No suspects have been named or apprehended. The plant's owner, the BioUrja Group of Houston, Texas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reactions

  • Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon called the device a credible threat but declined to call it a bomb while its composition is still being analyzed.
  • Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said the threat was real and urged residents within the one-mile zone to treat it as an emergency and evacuate.
  • FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley said the threat was rendered safe and the FBI would work tirelessly to bring whoever was responsible to justice.
  • Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said Peoria was given the all-clear and thanked law enforcement officers and first responders who worked around the clock.
  • East Peoria Mayor John Kahl said there had been a credible threat and the city was taking it seriously.
  • Illinois State Senator David Koehler said the bomb threat was not a hoax and urged people to leave the area that night.

Timeline newest first

  1. State and federal officers searched the BioUrja ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, on 14 November 2026, found nothing of concern, and lifted the one-mile evacuation order almost a full day after the device was found.
  2. Peoria police said bomb technicians rendered the device safe by 9:12 p.m. on 13 November 2026, and a shelter at a local high school was holding about 75 people.
  3. The BioUrja Renewables plant notified Peoria police of a bomb threat at 1:08 p.m. on 13 November 2026; police located the suspicious package by 2 p.m. and identified it as a credible bomb nearly five hours later, and evacuation orders were sent to nearby residents by around 7 p.m.
  4. A bomb with a one-mile blast radius was found at the BioUrja Renewables ethanol facility in Peoria, Illinois, on Friday 13 November 2026, prompting evacuations and sheltering at local facilities.
  5. Peoria police said on 14 November 2026 that no suspects had been named in the bomb threat investigation as state, federal, and local officers searched the BioUrja facility.
  6. Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon said the package was deemed a credible threat at 6:45 p.m. on 13 November 2026 and a one-mile blast radius was determined, and FBI Springfield agent Ryan Presley said the threat had been rendered safe.

Sources newest first