UPDATED 11:53 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – A more than two hour lockdown at Bradley University Tuesday night, after a bomb threat was called in to Peoria Police.
A bomb was not believed to be found, but Bradley Police Chief Brian Joschko says the investigation centered mainly around the Business Engineering Convergence Center.
“The building had students in there. There were faculty in there as well,” said Joschko, during a news conference Tuesday night aired live by WMBD. “That particular facility on our campus is, far and away, the largest building on our campus. We have a number of students who, when they are not taking classes, use that facility to study. It is a pretty heavily-used building.”
The center and Renaissance Coliseum were both evacuated during the investigation, and the center will remain closed until the investigation is complete. Joshko anticipates the building reopening Wednesday, however.
No one was hurt.
Peoria Police assisted Bradley University Police, and PPD Chief Eric Echevarria was pleased with his department’s work, but says, a debriefing is yet to come.
“We always take an opportunity to look,” said Echevarria. “Did we need to sound the alarm earlier? Did we need to make some notifications earlier? Did we need to escort people out a certain way? Did we need to block off certain areas?”
One of those concerns may be the response time. It took less than 20 minutes for a lockdown order to be issued once the bomb threat was called in after 7:20 p.m. Tuesday. Joschko says he wanted to make sure the response was appropriate.
“It was a very thought-through, methodical plan,” said Joschko. “We wanted to make sure and assess what the specific threat was. This was not just somebody that called up and said, ‘Hey, there’s a bomb here’ and hung up the phone.”
That said, Echevarria and Joshko would not comment on any potential suspects.
Counseling will be available for any Bradley University students or staff impacted by the bomb threat on Wednesday, the university said.
Our original live-blog reporting on the bomb threat is below.
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The all-clear has been given at Bradley University. We’re standing by for more details.
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PEORIA, Ill. – A lockdown is in place at Bradley University in Peoria.
That’s according to a statement on the university’s Twitter page — both of which simply say, “Lock down immediately. Wait for further instructions.”
Peoria Police spokeswoman Semone Roth tells WMBD Radio News a bomb threat was called in to the university. But, no one yet knows if an actual bomb is somewhere on campus.
There is also an unconfirmed report of an intruder on campus.
Bradley University spokeswoman Libby Derry says students are no longer required to shelter in place, but the lockdown continued as of 9:00 p.m.
Alex Hudachko, a student, told WMBD’s TJ Carson on scene he was in the Business Engineering Convergence Center when the word of an active threat on campus was first announced, followed by alarms. Hudachko says at the the time, the lockdown took place and he stayed in class until he was allowed to return to his dorm.
Bradley, Illinois State, and Peoria Police are on scene, as is the Peoria County Sheriffs Department.
The reports first came in around 7:40 P.M. There are, so far, no reports of injuries.
At 9:08 P.M., Bradley University’s police chief was en route to a media staging area to provide further details. We’ll bring them to you on air and online once we know more.
25 News reports residents of The Uplands neighborhood were told on a neighborhood app to “stay inside.”
Bradley University says counseling will be available for students who need it.
Stay with WMBD Radio News and this website for more details.
BU foreWarn – Lock down immediately. Wait for further instructions.
— Bradley University (@bradleyu) April 26, 2023
There is currently a lock down across campus, and everyone should stay in place. Police will let the campus community know when it is lifted.
— Bradley University (@bradleyu) April 26, 2023
BU foreWarn – You no longer need to shelter in place. However, stay indoors until you receive further instructions.
— Bradley University (@bradleyu) April 26, 2023
BU foreWarn – All clear. The immediate danger has passed. You may resume normal activity.
— Bradley University (@bradleyu) April 26, 2023
This evening, the BUPD received a bomb threat in the BECC building. After a thorough sweep, an all clear was issued. Bradley University counseling and support services will be available for impacted students.
— Bradley University (@bradleyu) April 26, 2023
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