WILLIAMSBURG TWP., Ohio — The Purina Pet Care plant in Williamsburg Township was evacuated Monday morning after a bomb threat was made against the plant, according to the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office.

Clermont County said in a news release that at 9:12 a.m., an employee called to report a note that had been discovered in a Porta Potty at the plant indicating that there was a “bomb inside” the facility on the block. 3000 Afton Drive with today’s date in the note.

Management immediately told employees to leave for the day, the sheriff’s office said. Clermont County deputies responded to the scene to help evacuate the facility and set up a media staging area just beyond the fence surrounding the property. Our team on scene could see cars leaving the site, stopped by someone wearing a safety vest.

The sheriff’s office said it conducted a thorough sweep of the entire building and perimeter and did not locate any items or devices. Nearly 900 employees were on site at the time of the evacuation.

There are no clues as to the origin of the threat, Clermont County said. If you have any information about this, please call the sheriff’s office at 513-732-7510.

The plant was announced back in 2020.but it is not clear whether it is partially or fully operational. Hiring for jobs at the facility has begun. Purina’s website says there will be 300 total jobs by the end of 2024 at the site.

The company estimates that it would invest $550 million in the new dry food factory.

The new location is Purina’s first newly built factory since 1975. Construction of the new 1.2 million-square-foot factory in the South Afton Industrial Park was originally projected to be completed in 2023. The field on which it was built It was empty for decades. waiting for the right opportunity.