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A trio of officers were killed and at least 15 others were hurt in what appears to be intentional blast caused by gas at a country home in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The blast occurred as police and firefighters went into the property in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an eviction order for a brother and sister trio who were older adults.

All three officers killed belonged to the Carabinieri force.

Legal Proceedings

Two individuals were taken into custody at the site and a third person who fled following the explosion was apprehended shortly later. The trio have been admitted to hospital.

The explosion could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and photographs from the scene showed the property reduced to a heap of debris.

“This is a time for grieving,” said the Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who added that previous tries had been made to evict the brother and sister trio in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The head of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, stated the residence was subject to an removal notice due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been assigned to talk with the family members who had locked themselves into the home. When the officers arrived just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators suspect one of the siblings set off the detonation.

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

“A gas cylinder had been ignited, and the detonation precisely impacted our officers,” he explained.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the site, the minister said.

Impact Assessment

Those injured by the incident consisted of an additional 11 personnel of the Carabinieri as well as three members of national police and a firefighter.

As stated by the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

The prosecutor was convinced the explosion had taken place on a story above the doorway and stated to reporters it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the incident, he said officers had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the propane tanks being activated”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors stated to reporters, mentioning that the three had in the past stated to “detonate the property” rather than leave the house.

“The incident exacted a ‘dreadful, extremely sad and dramatic price’.”

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto united with other government officials in commemorating the three officers who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.