Peoria police are urging everyone who lives or works within a mile of the BioUrja Renewables plant to leave right away after a reported bomb threat at the facility on Friday night, Nov. 13. That circle covers part of Peoria's riverfront. It also crosses the Illinois River into East Peoria.
The Peoria Police Department said it is investigating the threat at the plant, the former ADM site at 1 Edmund St. "The evacuation recommendation is being issued out of an abundance of caution while officers and emergency personnel investigate the threat," the department said. People in the area were told to stay out of their homes and businesses until further notice.
Officers are searching the plant to decide whether the threat is credible, police said, and the department has not reported finding anything there so far. No arrest has been announced.
Where to go and what is closed
Anyone who needs shelter can go to Manual Academy, 811 S. Griswold St., police said.
Most streets inside the one-mile area are closed. Police asked everyone who does not live or work there to keep away until further notice, and to cooperate with officers and emergency crews at the scene.
The City of East Peoria posted a map that shades the part of its side of the river inside the zone. "Anyone located within the green highlighted area needs to evacuate immediately," the city said.
What the plant does
BioUrja Renewables calls itself a distiller. Its website says it makes alcohol for beverages and for products such as hand sanitizer and detergents, along with fuel ethanol and corn-based oils used in renewable diesel. The Peoria plant was previously run by Archer Daniels Midland.
Police have not said how the threat was made or whether it named a target beyond the plant. Edit USA will update this report when police lift the evacuation or release more information.
