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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 others were hurt in what appears to be intentional detonation from gas at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel entered the house in the vicinity of the Verona region to carry out an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

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

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals were taken into custody at the location and another man who fled following the explosion was found not long after. The trio have been admitted to the hospital.

The detonation could be heard as far as 3 miles distant and photographs from the scene revealed the property turned into a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to evict the three family members in the past.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, explained the residence was under an eviction order due to unpaid amounts accrued by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been dispatched to engage the siblings who had locked themselves into the property. When the Carabinieri reached the location shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the siblings caused the explosion.

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

A gas canister had been set off, and the detonation immediately struck our personnel,” he said.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the property, the interior minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the explosion consisted of eleven more officers of the military police as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a derelict state and had was without power.

He thought the detonation had occurred on a level above the entrance and stated to journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the explosion, he said members had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the propane tanks being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors stated to Italian media, noting that the three had previously threatened to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

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

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister joined other elected representatives in honoring the three officers who had been killed in the line of duty.