Device made safe at Peoria ethanol plant in Illinois; evacuation remains in effect — Video

Police Chief Brad Dixon said one explosive device found at the BioUrja Renewables ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, was rendered safe Friday night, November 13. The facility had yet to be fully searched, and a one-mile evacuation zone covering parts of Peoria and East Peoria remained in effect Saturday morning.

Dixon said the threat remained credible and the search was expected to continue into Saturday afternoon. He declined to confirm whether authorities had found any other devices. The FBI and ATF were assisting local authorities.

Dixon said BioUrja reported the threat at 1:08 p.m. Friday, and a suspicious device was found around 2 p.m. Authorities determined the threat was credible by 6:45 p.m. and sent an evacuation alert at 7:02 p.m. The device was rendered safe shortly after 9 p.m. All times are local.

More than 5,000 people were reportedly evacuated, and about 75 were staying at the emergency shelter at Manual Academy. The next official update was scheduled for noon Saturday.
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