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A trio of officers were killed and at least 15 others sustained injuries in a seemingly premeditated gas explosion at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The explosion was triggered as police and firefighters approached the residence near Verona to enforce an eviction order for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals were members of the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were taken into custody at the site and a third person who ran away subsequent to the blast was located not long after. Each of them have been taken to medical facility.

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

“We are in a period of mourning,” said the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to displace the three family members in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The leader of the region of Veneto, the regional head, stated the property was under an court order due to unpaid amounts accrued by the three owners.

Negotiators had been sent to speak to the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the property. When the officers arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials suspect one of the siblings set off the explosion.

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

A propane tank had been ignited, and the blast directly hit our members,” he said.

Incendiary devices were also found at the site, the Interior Minister said.

Impact Assessment

Those injured by the blast consisted of eleven more officers of the military police as well as three members of national police and a firefighter.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had was without power.

The official believed the detonation had taken place on a story above the doorway and informed the press it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the incident, he revealed officers had “detected a whistling noise, presumably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to Italian media, adding that the family members had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

Defence Minister the Defence Minister united with other political leaders in honoring the trio of personnel who had died in the line of duty.