FBI AND ATF INVESTIGATE CREDIBLE BOMB THREAT AT ILLINOIS ETHANOL PLANT AS MASS EVACUATION ENDS

Federal, state, and local authorities are investigating a credible bomb threat at a major ethanol production facility in Peoria, Illinois, after a suspicious device prompted widespread evacuations, emergency road closures, and restrictions on Illinois River traffic. The device was rendered safe, and an extensive search found no additional threats, allowing surrounding communities to reopen as investigators work to identify those responsible

PEORIA, ILLINOIS — Federal and local law enforcement authorities are conducting a criminal investigation following the discovery of a suspicious device at the BioUrja Renewables ethanol production facility in Peoria, Illinois, on November 13, 2026. The incident triggered an extensive emergency response involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Illinois State Police, and local emergency personnel. Residents and businesses within approximately one mile of the industrial complex were urged to evacuate as bomb technicians assessed the threat and secured the surrounding area.

The emergency began at approximately 1:08 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, when BioUrja Renewables notified the Peoria Police Department that the company had received a bomb threat. Authorities later confirmed that the threatening communication had been delivered electronically, although its contents and the method used to transmit it have not been publicly disclosed. Investigators identified a suspicious package at approximately 2 p.m., prompting an examination of the item and the potential danger it presented to workers and neighboring communities.

By approximately 6:45 p.m., authorities had determined that the suspicious package represented a credible threat. Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon authorized a precautionary evacuation area extending one mile from the facility at 1 Edmund Street. The affected zone included portions of downtown Peoria, the Southside and Warehouse District, and areas extending across the Illinois River into East Peoria. Police closed numerous streets and advised residents and businesses to remain outside the restricted area while emergency crews conducted their operations.

The location of the threat heightened concerns because BioUrja operates a substantial industrial complex involved in ethanol and alcohol production. Such facilities contain equipment and materials that require specialized safety precautions during emergencies involving suspected explosives. Officials explained that the one-mile evacuation perimeter was established partly because of the industrial materials present at the site, rather than a confirmed determination that the device itself possessed a one-mile explosive capability.

Bomb technicians successfully rendered the device safe at approximately 9:12 p.m. Friday. Despite neutralizing the immediate threat, police maintained evacuation precautions overnight because the remainder of the sprawling industrial property had not been cleared. Dixon emphasized that securing one device did not establish that the entire facility was free of additional hazards.

During an early Saturday briefing, Dixon confirmed that investigators would conduct an exhaustive search before residents could safely return. Ryan A. Presley, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Springfield Field Office, confirmed federal involvement and indicated that investigators would work to identify those responsible. The ATF also participated in the response, bringing federal expertise relevant to suspected explosive devices and criminal investigations involving explosives.

The operation resumed at approximately 6 a.m. Saturday, November 14, with bomb specialists, law enforcement personnel, and BioUrja employees systematically examining the property. Officials described the facility’s size as equivalent to approximately 44.5 football fields, requiring a coordinated search across numerous industrial structures and operating areas. The effort was briefly interrupted by technical issues around 9:45 a.m. before resuming approximately 30 minutes later.

By early Saturday afternoon, investigators had completed their examination of the facility without discovering additional suspicious devices. Shortly after 1 p.m., Dixon announced that the evacuation area was being lifted and that residents and businesses could return. Police began removing barricades and reopening streets, marking the conclusion of an emergency that had disrupted surrounding communities for much of the previous evening and following morning. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The U.S. Coast Guard also participated in the emergency response, establishing restrictions on vessel traffic along the Illinois River between mile markers 160 and 164. Capt. Brandy Parker explained that the temporary restriction was intended to protect commercial and recreational traffic while authorities evaluated the potential danger near the waterfront industrial facility. River navigation restrictions were lifted at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday after the search concluded.

Emergency shelters were established at Manual Academy in Peoria and EastSide Centre in neighboring East Peoria. The American Red Cross assisted displaced residents with temporary accommodations and essential supplies, while police officers conducted neighborhood notifications and helped individuals requiring transportation. Approximately 60 to 80 people were reported at the Manual Academy shelter during Saturday’s emergency response. The threat also disrupted local activities, including the cancellation of a scheduled November 13 concert by country music performer Jon Pardi at the Peoria Civic Center.

The BioUrja facility has a significant history within the region’s industrial economy. Previously operated by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), the ethanol production complex was sold to BioUrja Group following an agreement announced on October 21, 2021. ADM identified the transaction as involving approximately 135 million gallons of annual ethanol production capacity. BioUrja Group, headquartered in Houston, Texas, expanded its industrial operations through the acquisition, with activities involving fuel ethanol, beverage-grade alcohol, and highly distilled industrial alcohol. The plant’s industrial operations and proximity to populated neighborhoods made the threat particularly consequential for local emergency planners.

Although Peoria Mayor Rita Ali publicly identified the recovered device as a bomb, authorities have not released a final forensic determination confirming its explosive composition or operational capability. Bomb technicians rendered the suspicious item safe Friday evening, and Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon subsequently declined to confirm its precise classification during Saturday’s briefing. Investigators have not publicly disclosed additional technical findings establishing whether the device was capable of detonating, how it reached the property, or who was responsible for placing it there.

The criminal investigation remains active, with authorities examining the threatening communication and circumstances surrounding the discovery. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect, disclosed a motive, or announced an arrest. Federal officials have also declined to characterize the incident as terrorism, and no confirmed connection to a domestic or international extremist organization has been established.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also acknowledged the emergency, directing the Illinois State Police to coordinate with local authorities and urging residents to follow official instructions. The response brought together municipal, state, and federal agencies responsible for protecting the surrounding population, securing industrial operations, and maintaining transportation safety during the investigation.

The incident demonstrates the consequences a credible explosive threat can have when directed at infrastructure surrounded by residential neighborhoods, businesses, and transportation corridors. Although authorities successfully secured the device and reopened the affected communities without reported injuries, the criminal investigation remains unresolved. Further findings from Peoria police and federal investigators will determine whether charges are filed and establish the full circumstances behind the November 13 emergency.

Peoria Police Department — “Immediate Evacuation Notice — BioUrja Renewables Bomb Threat.” Official civil emergency notification distributed through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), November 13, 2026, at 8:18 p.m. Central Standard Time. Archived emergency alert documenting the reported bomb threat at 1 Edmund Street, Peoria, Illinois, the one-mile evacuation area, and emergency shelter instructions. (Free Download)

Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, Division of Petroleum & Chemical Safety — “Facility Details for BioUrja Renewables, LLC.” Official Illinois facility registration record, Facility No. 3002224. Documents the plant’s industrial classification, ownership history, November 1, 2021 acquisition date, and registered petroleum storage tanks. (Free Download)

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