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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people got wounded in an apparently intentional detonation from gas at a rural property in northern Italy.

How It Happened

The explosion occurred as officers and emergency crews approached the house in the vicinity of the Verona region to carry out an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister aged in their 50s and 60s.

All three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals got detained at the location and another man who fled after the incident was found not long after. The trio have been admitted to hospital.

The detonation could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the scene showed the structure left as a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” commented Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who added that previous tries had been made to remove the brother and sister trio in the past.

Background and Motive

The leader of the Veneto area, President Zaia, said the property was under an removal notice due to financial obligations incurred by the property owners.

Mediators had been dispatched to engage the brothers and sister who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the officers reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators suspect one of the residents set off the detonation.

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

A gas canister had been activated, and the explosion immediately struck our members,” he said.

Incendiary devices were also found at the residence, the minister confirmed.

Casualties and Damage

Injured individuals by the blast included 11 other members of the police force as well as three officers of national police and a firefighter.

As stated by the local prosecutor, the building was in a dilapidated shape and had was without power.

The official believed the blast had happened on a story above the access point and stated to journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the incident, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the gas canisters being opened”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” nearby inhabitants informed Italian media, mentioning that the three had in the past stated to “blow themselves up” rather than vacate the property.

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

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto united with other political leaders in paying tribute to the trio of personnel who had died in the service of their country.