U.S. authorities found a bomb near an ethanol production plant in Illinois, leading to an evacuation order for nearby residents. The bomb disposal team has defused the device but is continuing a detailed search of the area.
On Saturday, 14 Nov 2026 GMT+7, U.S. officials revealed that a bomb was detected near an ethanol plant in central Illinois, prompting an immediate evacuation of residents living near the industrial site as law enforcement began investigating the incident.
The bomb was discovered on Friday afternoon at the BioUrja Renewables plant in Peoria. Although officials stated the device was defused and "made safe," by Saturday morning, all residents within a one-mile radius remained under evacuation orders while authorities conducted a thorough search of the plant for additional explosives and evidence.
During the investigation, authorities established a temporary shelter to accommodate those displaced by the evacuation.
"This is a credible threat," Brad Dickson, Peoria’s police chief, told reporters shortly after midnight on Saturday. "We must take the blast radius seriously."
"We understand this process disrupts and inconveniences residents and visitors," Dickson added. "We ask for public patience as we work to secure this area."
Ryan Presley, a special agent with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said his agency is investigating but declined to provide further details, emphasizing, "We will work tirelessly to identify those responsible and bring them to justice."
So far, no suspects have been arrested, and there are no reports of injuries.
Rita Ali, mayor of Peoria, told WMBD-TV on Friday that BioUrja is "a plant handling ethanol and highly flammable chemicals, which is why we are alarmed."
Peoria, with a population of about 110,000, lies approximately 150 miles southwest of Chicago. The BioUrja plant is located along the Illinois River and has been owned by the company since 2021.
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Source:npr