Residents evacuated after bomb found at Illinois plant — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Residents and businesses within a one-mile (1.6km) radius of an ethanol plant in Peoria, Illinois, were ordered to evacuate following a bomb threat and the discovery of an explosive device, US media reported. The incident occurred at BioUrja Renewables, an ethanol production plant in Peoria. Company officials alerted police to the threat at about 1:08pm on Friday, November 13, local time. A suspicious package was received at the facility around 2pm. Peoria Police Chief Brad Dixon said at a news conference that authorities had identified a credible threat and established an evacuation zone extending one mile in all directions from the plant. The evacuation affected parts of Peoria and neighbouring East Peoria. Several roads were closed, and residents and businesses were instructed to leave the area. Dixon said the explosive device was rendered safe at about 9:15pm on Friday, local time (7:45am on Saturday, Afghanistan time). However, he stressed that the plant had not yet been declared safe and that security personnel were continuing to search the facility for any other possible explosive devices. The evacuation order remained in effect. Ryan Presley, an official at the FBI’s Springfield field office, said federal agents were assisting local law enforcement agencies with the investigation and working to identify those responsible for the threat. Dixon said most bomb threats did not…