PEORIA (25News Now) – The mass evacuation of neighborhoods within a mile radius of BioUrja Renewables in Peoria will continue through Saturday after police said a suspicious package was determined to be a credible bomb threat.
While the package has been “made safe,” Police Chief Brad Dixon said an exhaustive search is underway at the South Peoria factory, located at 1 Edmund Street, near Southwest Washington Street.
Dixon said the company notified police of the threat at 1:08 p.m. and it wasn’t until just over seven hours later that bomb disposal technicians moved the package to safety.
At a news conference held at 12:40 a.m. Saturday, Dixon asked for the public’s patience while investigators search the large facility for additional explosive devices.
Ryan Presley, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Springfield office, declined to provide details but promised that investigators would work “tirelessly” to find those responsible and “bring them to justice.”
About two hours earlier, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali spoke to reporters at Manual Academy on South Griswold Street, which is being used as an evacuation shelter. She was the first to confirm that a bomb had been found.
“A device has been identified. We know it’s a credible threat. We know it’s a bomb,” Ali said. The mayor warned that “we don’t know if there are other devices.”
The evacuation order went into effect at 7:02 p.m. and Peoria police released the following statement:
The Peoria Police Department is actively investigating a bomb threat reported at BioUrja Renewables, formerly the ADM Plant, 1 Edmund Street Peoria IL.
As a precaution, the Peoria Police Department is urging anyone living or working within a one-mile radius of the facility to immediately evacuate their homes and businesses until further notice. The evacuation recommendation is being issued out of an abundance of caution while officers and emergency personnel investigate the threat. If an evacuee needs to seek shelter, please go to Manual Academy, 811 S. Griswold Street Peoria IL.
All citizens are asked to avoid the one-mile area of the facility until further notice. Most of the streets in this area were closed.
Officers are currently on scene conducting a thorough investigation and search of the facility to determine the credibility of the threat and ensure public safety.
Residents and businesses in the designated area are asked to cooperate with emergency personnel and avoid the area until further notice.
Dixon said early Saturday morning about 70 people were housed in Manual’s shelter. EastSide Center is the designated shelter for East Peoria, city officials said.
Late Friday evening, East Peoria government announced that evacuations would remain in effect and that another update would come no later than 9 a.m. Saturday. Peoria police have scheduled another briefing for Saturday at noon.
Meanwhile, at Caterpillar, the company asked employees not to show up for the third shift Friday evening.
“Due to guidance from local law enforcement regarding the security situation in Downtown Peoria, employees should not report to the third shift. Please follow guidance from local law enforcement on this evolving situation.”
Downtown Peoria’s largest employer, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center, released the following statement, saying it is taking “all appropriate precautions.”
“The safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and mission partners remains our top priority. We are taking all appropriate precautions in response to the situation in downtown Peoria and working closely with local authorities. We will continue to monitor the situation and take any additional steps necessary to maintain a safe environment for those we serve and those who work in our facilities.”
OSF Life Flight also released a statement saying its emergency medical helicopters and radio communications were not affected.
“Tonight, it is not business as usual, but as it has been trained. Emergency medical helicopters and their radio communications have not been affected, and we will continue to provide only safe transportation. We still have a policy that ensures everyone arrives safely and will continue to offer support to our hospitals, agencies and other partners as necessary.”
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