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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 additional individuals sustained injuries in an apparently premeditated blast caused by gas at a rural property in northern Italy.

Event Timeline

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel approached the residence in the vicinity of the Verona region to carry out an removal notice for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three officers killed were members of the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were taken into custody at the location and a third person who ran away subsequent to the blast was found shortly later. Each of them have been admitted to medical facility.

The detonation could be heard approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the area showed the property reduced to a mass of wreckage.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” commented the Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who added that previous tries had been made to evict the three siblings in the previous occasions.

Financial Context

The head of the Veneto area, President Zaia, stated the property was subject to an court order due to debts incurred by the siblings.

Mediators had been dispatched to speak to the brothers and sister 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 blast.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” local police chief Commander Papagno informed reporters.

“A gas cylinder had been set off, and the blast immediately struck our members,” he said.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the property, the interior minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the blast consisted of 11 other members of the military police as well as three members of Italy's state police and a fire services member.

As stated by the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had lacked electrical service.

He was convinced the blast had taken place on a level above the entrance and told journalists it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Just prior to the incident, he mentioned personnel had “detected a whistling noise, likely the gas canisters being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to reporters, adding that the three had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” 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 elected representatives in honoring the three officers who had been killed in the performance of their duties.