Peoria bomb threat: Police continue search for more explosives at BioUrja plant as evacuation order remains

Detailed summary

Police and the FBI continue searching Peoria's BioUrja plant for explosives after one bomb was found, while nearby residents remain evacuated.

Police and federal investigators are continuing to search the BioUrja Renewables plant in Peoria, Illinois, for possible additional explosives after a bomb was discovered at the facility on Friday, November 13. The explosive device was rendered safe around 9:12pm, but authorities have not cleared the site, and an evacuation order covering a one-mile radius remains in effect as of Saturday, November 14.

The FBI is assisting local authorities with the investigation. However, officials have not confirmed how many additional devices, if any, could be at the facility.

A social media post by JLR Investigates, an investigative reporter, has also claimed that the FBI is searching for three more bombs in the Peoria area. The post stated, "FBI are looking for 3 more bombs planted in the Peoria Illinois area. We are watching LIVE on KICK."

However, the claim about three additional bomb threats has not been confirmed by law enforcement officials.

The investigation began Friday after BioUrja Renewables reported receiving a bomb threat. According to Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon, the company contacted police at 1:08pm A suspicious package was found at around 2pm, and investigators determined it was a credible threat by 6:45pm.

Also Read: Bomb confirmed at Illinois BioUrja ethanol plant as Peoria evacuation continues, mayor says

Bomb technicians later rendered the device safe at approximately 9:12pm.

Despite that development, the search did not end. Dixon said the facility was large and would require a detailed search before authorities could declare the area safe.

"It's a large facility, there's going to be exhaustive search of the facility. That has not been completed yet," Dixon said during a news conference early Saturday.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Hindustan Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.