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A trio of officers lost their lives and no fewer than 15 others got wounded in a seemingly deliberate gas explosion at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The blast was triggered as police and firefighters entered the property close to the city of Verona to enforce an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three officers killed were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who escaped after the explosion was located not long after. All three have been taken to the hospital.

The detonation could be noticed as far as 3 miles distant and footage from the location showed the building turned into a heap of debris.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated the Minister of the Interior the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to displace the three family members in the past.

Background and Motive

The president of the Veneto area, President Zaia, explained the residence was facing an court order due to unpaid amounts incurred by the property owners.

Negotiators had been assigned to talk with the siblings who had secured themselves into the property. When the officers reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators suspect one of the residents triggered the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” provincial police commander the police commander stated to news outlets.

A propane tank had been set off, and the blast immediately struck our members,” he said.

Petrol bombs were also located at the site, the minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the explosion consisted of an additional 11 personnel of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a emergency responder.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the building was in a derelict state and had was without power.

The prosecutor thought the detonation had taken place on a story above the doorway and informed reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the blast, he mentioned officers had “heard a whistle, probably the gas canisters being activated”.

Community Reaction

“We all knew the situation was dire,” nearby inhabitants informed local news, mentioning that the family members had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

“The blast resulted in a ‘horrific, deeply distressing and tragic cost’.”

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto joined other elected representatives in commemorating the trio of personnel who had lost their lives in the service of their country.