Authorities in Peoria, Illinois ordered a large-scale evacuation after an explosive device was found at BioUrja Renewables (ethanol and alcohol production facility). Emergency orders were issued for parts of Peoria and neighboring East Peoria with residents and businesses within one mile radius told to leave the area.
The threat was reported on Friday, November 13, 2026. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said authorities had found a bomb and that it was a credible threat. Police later said the bomb had been rendered safe but the surrounding evacuation order remained in place while investigators searched the facility.
The incident also caused road closures, emergency shelter arrangements and activity disruption in downtown Peoria.
Explosive Device Discovered at BioUrja Renewables
The incident involved BioUrja Renewables at 1 Edmund Street in Peoria. It was formerly an ADM plant and is used to produce ethanol and alcohol.
Police Chief Brad Dixon of Peoria said the company called police at 1:08 pm Friday that it had received a bomb threat and at about 2 pm they received a suspicious package.
Police examined the package and by 6:45 pm determined it was credible. Police then set up an evacuation zone one mile from the facility.
Mayor Rita Ali addressed the issue at a late night briefing and said a device had been found.
“We know it’s a bomb,” she said, local media reported. She also warned that authorities didn’t know if other devices were present.
The discovery led to an emergency response by local police, fire and other agencies.
One-Mile Evacuation Ordered in Peoria and East Peoria
Peoria Police told everyone living or working within one mile of BioUrja facility to evacuate their homes and businesses until further notice.
The evacuation included parts of downtown Peoria and the Warehouse District as well as areas across the Illinois River in neighbouring East Peoria.
East Peoria officials issued a similar evacuation order and asked residents to follow instructions from emergency personnel.
Authorities set up temporary shelters for people forced to leave their homes:
- Manual Academy: 811 South Griswold Street in Peoria.
- EastSide Centre: Shelter for East Peoria residents.
About 75 people were staying at Manual Academy shelter by early Saturday morning, local reporting said. The American Red Cross was helping with arrangements for evacuees.
Officials also asked people who couldn’t arrange their own transportation to contact emergency services for help.
Explosive Device Rendered Safe, But Evacuation Continues
An important development happened during an early Saturday morning briefing.
Police Chief Brad Dixon said the explosive device had been declared safe at 9:15 pm Friday night but not the entire BioUrja facility.
🚨 BREAKING: Authorities say an explosive device has been found at BioUrja Renewables in Peoria, Illinois. A 1-mile evacuation is in effect. FBI, ATF and bomb squads are responding. If you're in the area: LEAVE NOW and follow emergency instructions. https://t.co/SffAwhFqGa
— Sultan at Google (@sultanhocen) November 14, 2026
Dixon said the industrial site was large and that they had to search it further before investigators could say there were no more threats.
The one mile evacuation zone therefore remained in place on Saturday morning and officials said restrictions would last for several more hours.
Police also said residents and businesses should not return until authorities “officially” announced the area was safe.
Interstate 74 and Local Roads Affected
The bomb threat caused a lot of disruption to road traffic around Peoria.
I-74 was briefly closed in both directions through the city as emergency personnel secured the area. Several local streets and access routes were also closed.
By early Saturday police said Interstate 74 was reopened but multiple road closures remained around BioUrja.
Motorists were asked to avoid the area and take alternate routes (I-474 where possible).
Local businesses and planned activities were also affected by the evacuation. The Peoria Civic Center was evacuated on Friday night but its parking lots remained in the evacuation zone.
Caterpillar also told employees on its third shift not to report to work because of local guidance from authorities.
FBI Joins Investigation
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) was helping Peoria Police with the investigation.
Ryan Presley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Springfield office said federal agents were working with local law enforcement agencies.
The investigation also seeks to identify who made the threat.
Police Chief Dixon said authorities were devoting a lot of resources to the case but would not provide specifics.
As of November 14th, officials had not named a suspect or stated a motive for the attack.
Governor JB Pritzker Monitoring the Situation
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said he was watching developments in Peoria.
Illinois State Police also assisted local authorities traffic control and wider emergency response.
Local officials continued to coordinate evacuation plans and public safety arrangements as investigators searched the facility.
Multiple agencies responded because the incident affected a large area in two neighbouring communities.
What Happens Next?
Although the explosive device was removed on Friday night, police were still investigating on Saturday morning. Investigators were still checking out the facility to see if there were any other threats.
Police said there would be more public announcements as the search continued. People and businesses in the one-mile evacuation zone were told to stay away until an all clear was given.
The incident shows how much can happen in the wake of a credible explosive threat at an industrial facility (and residential and commercial areas too), particularly when it involves nearby residential and commercial areas.
Who the person was and why he made the threat aren’t known yet. The investigation is ongoing.
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