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Three police officers lost their lives and no fewer than 15 additional individuals sustained injuries in what appears to be premeditated gas explosion at a farmhouse in northern Italy.

How It Happened

The explosion was triggered as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the house close to Verona to enforce an court-ordered eviction for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Carabinieri military police.

Legal Proceedings

One male and one female were taken into custody at the location and a third person who ran away subsequent to the explosion was found shortly later. The trio have been taken to medical facility.

The detonation could be heard as far as 3 miles distant and images from the scene revealed the building reduced to a heap of debris.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” said the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who noted that attempts had been made to displace the three family members in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The president of the Veneto region, the regional head, explained the farmhouse was facing an removal notice due to debts accrued by the siblings.

Mediators had been sent to speak to the family members who had locked themselves into the house. When the Carabinieri reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect one of the residents caused the blast.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” local police chief Claudio Papagno stated to reporters.

“A gas cylinder had been ignited, and the blast precisely impacted our personnel,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the site, the Interior Minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the incident included eleven more officers of the Carabinieri as well as three officers of the state police and a fire services member.

As stated by the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a derelict state and had no electricity.

The prosecutor thought the detonation had happened on a floor above the entrance and stated to reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Moments before the explosion, he said members had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the gas canisters being opened”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents told reporters, adding that the family members had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

“The blast resulted in a ‘horrific, deeply distressing and tragic cost’.”

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto joined other government officials in commemorating the three men who had died in the performance of their duties.