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Three police officers perished and at least 15 others got wounded in a seemingly deliberate blast caused by gas at a country home in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The blast took place as police and firefighters entered the property in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an removal notice for two brothers and a sister aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals were taken into custody at the location and a third person who fled subsequent to the blast was apprehended shortly later. Each of them have been admitted to the hospital.

The detonation could be audible some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the area displayed the property left as a mass of wreckage.

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

Financial Context

The head of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, said the farmhouse was under an removal notice due to debts accrued by the three owners.

Negotiators had been sent to engage the family members who had barricaded themselves into the house. When the Carabinieri reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect one of the siblings triggered the detonation.

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

A propane tank had been ignited, and the detonation directly hit our personnel,” he added.

Incendiary devices were also located at the residence, the interior minister confirmed.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the blast included an additional 11 personnel of the police force as well as three officers of the state police and a fire services member.

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

He was convinced the detonation had taken place on a level above the entrance and informed reporters it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Moments before the explosion, he said officers had “detected a whistling noise, presumably the propane tanks being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors told reporters, noting that the trio had previously threatened to “detonate the property” rather than be evicted.

“The explosion had left a ‘terrible, very painful and dramatic toll’.”

The Defense Minister the Defence Minister united with other government officials in commemorating the trio of personnel who had been killed in the service of their country.