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Three police officers perished and at least 15 others sustained injuries in an apparently intentional detonation from gas at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The explosion took place as officers and emergency crews entered the residence near the city of Verona to execute an removal notice for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

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

Legal Proceedings

One male and one female were arrested at the site and another man who escaped after the explosion was located soon after. All three have been taken to hospital.

The blast could be noticed as far as 3 miles distant and footage from the scene displayed the building reduced to a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” commented the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to displace the three family members in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The head of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, explained the farmhouse was subject to an court order due to financial obligations incurred by the property owners.

Negotiators had been sent to talk with the brothers and sister who had barricaded themselves into the house. When the officers came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe a family member caused the detonation.

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

A propane tank had been set off, and the detonation precisely impacted our members,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also found at the residence, the interior minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the explosion consisted of eleven more officers of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a fire services member.

As stated by the local prosecutor, the property was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

He thought the detonation had happened on a story above the access point and informed reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Moments before the incident, he revealed personnel had “heard a whistle, probably the propane tanks being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents stated to local news, adding that the family members had previously threatened to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister stood alongside other elected representatives in commemorating the three officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.