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A trio of officers lost their lives and more than a dozen people got wounded in a seemingly intentional detonation from gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The blast took place as police and firefighters went into the house near the city of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

Each of the three officers killed belonged to the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who fled after the blast was apprehended not long after. All three have been taken to the hospital.

The blast could be audible approximately 5 kilometers away and photographs from the area revealed the structure turned into a pile of rubble.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” said the Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the three siblings in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The leader of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, stated the residence was facing an removal notice due to debts accumulated by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been dispatched to engage the family members who had locked themselves into the property. When the police arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators suspect one of the siblings set off the blast.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief Commander Papagno told reporters.

A gas canister had been set off, and the explosion immediately struck our members,” he added.

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

Casualties and Damage

Injured individuals by the blast consisted of an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

The official thought the detonation had taken place on a floor above the access point and informed the press it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the incident, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” nearby inhabitants informed Italian media, noting that the family members had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than leave the house.

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

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto stood alongside other elected representatives in honoring the trio of personnel who had been killed in the service of their country.