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Three police officers perished and no fewer than 15 others sustained injuries in what appears to be deliberate detonation from gas at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The blast occurred as police and firefighters approached the property in the vicinity of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Carabinieri military police.

Legal Proceedings

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who fled after the blast was found not long after. The trio have been admitted to the hospital.

The blast could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location displayed the structure left as a mass of wreckage.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the three siblings in the past.

Financial Context

The head of the Veneto region, President Zaia, stated the property was subject to an removal notice due to unpaid amounts accrued by the siblings.

Mediators had been sent to talk with the brothers and sister who had secured themselves into the home. When the police arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators think a family member triggered the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” local police chief Claudio Papagno stated to the media.

“A gas cylinder had been set off, and the blast directly hit our personnel,” he added.

Incendiary devices were also discovered at the property, the Interior Minister confirmed.

Impact Assessment

Those injured by the explosion comprised 11 other members of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a emergency responder.

As stated by the local prosecutor, the building was in a derelict state and had no electricity.

The official was convinced the detonation had taken place on a level above the doorway and stated to journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the explosion, he mentioned officers had “detected a whistling noise, probably the gas canisters being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents told Italian media, mentioning that the trio had previously threatened to “detonate the property” rather than vacate the property.

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

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister united with other government officials in commemorating the three men who had died in the service of their country.