Active bomb forces urgent evacuation of US city as officials says 'we cannot guarantee safety'

An active bomb has been discovered at an ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois.

The discovery prompted an emergency evacuation across a one-mile radius of the BioUrja Renewables plant on Southwest Washington Street in the city's south.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali confirmed the suspicious package posed a real threat.

She said: "It is real. This is a real thing. We know that it is a real threat. We know it is a bomb."

The discovery sparked widespread alarm, with Ms Ali addressing residents from Manual High School, situated beyond the evacuation perimeter.

She said: "This is a real crisis situation right now. We want all of our residents to treat it like an emergency and to evacuate the area within that one-mile radius."

Congressman Eric Sorensen warned that authorities could not guarantee public safety across the city, hinting that more than one device may have been located at the facility, which sits roughly a mile and a half from Peoria's centre.

Mr Sorensen said: "You need to stay safe because we cannot guarantee the safety of the city of Peoria."

All bridges spanning the Illinois River were closed as a precautionary measure, whilst the river itself was shut down to traffic.

Interstate 74 was also blocked in both directions through the city, with County Sheriff Chris Watkins advising motorists to use the 474 bypass instead.

State Senator David Koehler said: "This is not a hoax. It has gone beyond this. This is very serious. Get out of the area. We'll see what comes tomorrow but get out of the area tonight."

The FBI, US Coast Guard, and Department of Homeland Security all deployed personnel to Peoria to assist with the response, joining local police and fire services as well as Illinois State Police and East Peoria officers already at the scene.

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker confirmed he had ordered state police to work alongside local agencies.

He said: "I am actively monitoring the bomb threat in Peoria, and I have directed the Illinois State Police to coordinate with local authorities. Please follow directions from law enforcement and stay clear of the area."

Despite the scale of the emergency response, some residents remained unconvinced.

Peoria City Council member Bernice Gordon-Young took to Facebook to counter the scepticism directly.

She wrote: "As an elected official, serving on the Peoria City Council, I am telling you that this IS credible!! This is not the time for nonsense."

Ms Gordon-Young urged residents to follow evacuation orders, adding: "We are trying to tell you all that this is a legitimate threat to public safety and please follow the evacuation instructions."

Manual High School served as the primary gathering point for displaced residents, with approximately 50 people sheltering there shortly after midnight local time.

According to a statement from East Peoria authorities, the evacuation order was expected to remain in place until at least 9am today.

Numerous local businesses also closed in response to the emergency.

Sheriff Watkins advised people to avoid downtown Peoria and the East Peoria riverfront entirely.

BioUrja acquired the ethanol plant from ADM in 2021.

The facility produces ethanol used in fuel, beverages and hand sanitiser, among other products.