An evacuation order was lifted for parts of Peoria, Illinois, on Nov. 14 after a bomb was found near an ethanol plant.
The bomb, found Friday afternoon at the BioUrja Renewables facility, prompted emergency crews to issue evacuations for residents within a 1-mile radius of the area.
Although the facility was located along the Illinois River in an industrial area of South Peoria, it was about 1.5 miles from downtown, which is full of restaurants and popular on a Friday night.
Emergency crews worked through the night and into the following day to scour the facility for any other bombs and evidence.
The Peoria Police Department gave the all-clear around 2:00 p.m. ET.
“They have found no other items of concern at this time,” the department wrote in a Facebook press release. “The evacuation order will no longer be in effect. The street barricades will be removed, and all roads will be opened. Residents are now free to return to their homes in the area that was affected by this order.”
As of Saturday afternoon, no arrests have been made, and no injuries have been reported.
FBI Special Agent Ryan Presley confirmed the agency was investigating, but declined to provide further details.
Christopher C. Amon, the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division, said the agency deployed special agents, special agent canine handlers, and certified explosive specialists to assist with the search.
“This is an active investigation,” Amon said at a press briefing on Saturday. “ATF and our partners remain committed to finding the person or persons responsible for this criminal act and ensuring they are held fully accountable for their actions.”
Captain Brandy N. Parker, the commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River, said at the press briefing that they had established a safety zone and restricted all traffic on the Illinois River between mile markers 160 and 164.
“We recognize the importance of the Illinois River to both regional and national commerce,” Parker said. “While safety remains our top priority, we will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to assess the situation and facilitate the reopening of the waterway as soon as it is safe to do so. We ask the public and maritime community to respect the established Safety Zone and follow the guidance of local authorities.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker weighed in on the update on X.
“Thank you to our tireless law enforcement officers and first responders on call who worked around the clock to keep Peoria safe,” Pritzker wrote. “And thank you to the community for coming together to support one another at a time like this.”
Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), who represents Central and Northwestern Illinois, posted a series of updates on his X account during the evacuation.
“We’re going to continue to be here on scene as much as we can to offer the support from the federal government, but then also many thanks to the state and local leaders too,” Sorensen said. “This was really an effort of bringing everybody together.”
