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Three members of law enforcement perished and more than a dozen others got wounded in what appears to be premeditated gas explosion at a country home in northern Italy.

Event Timeline

The explosion took place as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the residence in the vicinity of the city of Verona to enforce an removal notice for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Carabinieri force.

Legal Proceedings

One male and one female were arrested at the scene and a third person who ran away subsequent to the explosion was located shortly later. The trio have been admitted to hospital.

The blast could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the location revealed the building turned into a mass of wreckage.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the brother and sister trio in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The head of the Veneto area, the regional head, explained the property was facing an court order due to debts incurred by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to engage the family members who had secured themselves into the home. When the police came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the residents triggered the explosion.

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

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

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

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the incident included an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

The prosecutor believed the explosion had occurred on a floor above the entrance and informed the press it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Shortly before the blast, he said members had “noticed a hissing sound, likely the propane tanks being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors informed local news, mentioning that the three had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto joined other political leaders in paying tribute to the trio of personnel who had been killed in the line of duty.