(TNND) — A bomb was found at an ethanol plant in Illinois, prompting authorities to evacuate people living nearby as police searched the facility, officials said on Saturday.
Authorities found the device Friday at BioUrja Renewables, an ethanol plant in Peoria. Officials deemed it a credible threat, and Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon said authorities were not treating the incident as a hoax.
Bomb technicians rendered the device safe at about 9:12 p.m. Friday, but officials said the plant had not been cleared. By Saturday morning, a one-mile evacuation zone remained in effect, covering parts of Peoria and neighboring East Peoria. CNN reported that more than 5,000 residents and workers were evacuated.
Authorities continued searching the large facility for other possible devices and evidence, and officials said the search could take much of Saturday or longer…