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Evacuation lifted after bomb threat near industrial plant in Peoria, Illinois; rendered safe by police
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- An evacuation order was lifted Saturday in Peoria, Illinois, after a bomb threat near the BioUrja ethanol plant, allowing residents within a 1-mile radius to return home and businesses to resume normal operations.
- A suspicious package found Friday afternoon was deemed a credible threat and was rendered safe by 9:12 p.m., though searches for additional devices at the large facility continued.
- The FBI and multiple local agencies are collaborating on the ongoing investigation, with officials committed to identifying and apprehending those responsible.
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Peoria Mayor Rita Ali emphasized the seriousness of the threat due to the plant's storage of ethanol and other combustible chemicals.
- The incident led to the cancellation of a nearby concert by country singer Jon Pardi, and local authorities provided shelter for displaced residents at Manual Academy.
