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A suspicious device at an ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, triggered evacuations within a 1-mile radius, with local events forced to cancel as investigations continue.
Police and federal authorities said early Saturday that they had found a device deemed a \u201ccredible threat\u201d and rendered it safe, without giving details as to its nature.
Searches were ongoing and the evacuation order remains in place, Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon said at a press conference.
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to search the entire property,\u201d Dixon said, referring to the BioUrja ethanol plant.
The area \u201chas not been rendered safe,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s going to be an exhaustive search of the facility that has not been completed yet.\u201d
\u201cI don\u2019t want to get into how many we found, where we found them,\u201d he added, but said those living in a 1-mile radius \u201cshould absolutely evacuate the area.\u201d
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali told NBC affiliate WEEK there was an \u201call hands on deck\u201d response, saying: \u201cA device has been identified. We know it\u2019s a credible threat. We know it\u2019s a bomb.\u201d
\u200bFBI Special Agent Ryan Presley told media that FBI personnel, along with local and state police, had determined a \u201csuspicious package was a threat and rendered it safe.\u201d
Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., met with evacuees at Peoria Manual High School on Friday night.
\u201cThis is the designated shelter area for those that are impacted by the evacuation that\u2019s going on just south of downtown Peoria,\u201d he said in an update. \u201cWhat we do need to make sure is that everybody\u2019s making good decisions. If you are within the 1-mile radius of the chemical plant BioUrja in Peoria, you have to evacuate.\u201d
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker urged locals to \u201cfollow directions from law enforcement and stay clear of the area.\u201d
Country music singer Jon Pardi was forced to cancel his show scheduled for Friday evening at the Peoria Civic Center.
\u201cAt the direction of the Chief of Police, tonight\u2019s concert has been canceled due to an active local safety concern,\u201d he posted on Instagram, adding that tickets would be refunded.
Dozer Park, home of the minor league baseball team the Peoria Chiefs, also canceled a holiday event at the venue.
The nearby OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center said it was \u201ctaking all appropriate precautions in response to the situation in downtown Peoria.\u201d A statement said: \u201cWe will continue to monitor the situation and take any additional steps necessary to maintain a safe environment for those we serve and those who work at our facilities.\u201d
Freddie Clayton is a freelance journalist based in London.\u00a0
Francie Ebert is an NBC News Researcher.
Samantha Cookinham is an NBC News assignment editor.
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