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A trio of officers perished and at least 15 additional individuals were hurt in what appears to be intentional detonation from gas at a country home in the northern part of Italy.

Event Timeline

The blast was triggered as police and firefighters went into the residence close to the city of Verona to carry out an eviction order for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

Each of the three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals got detained at the site and a third person who ran away after the explosion was found soon after. All three have been taken to hospital.

The detonation could be audible some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the scene displayed the building reduced to a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to evict the brother and sister trio in the earlier times.

Background and Motive

The head of the region of Veneto, the regional head, explained the farmhouse was under an removal notice due to unpaid amounts accrued by the siblings.

Negotiators had been assigned to engage the siblings who had locked themselves into the house. When the police came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the siblings triggered the blast.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” local police chief Commander Papagno told news outlets.

“A gas cylinder had been set off, and the explosion directly hit our members,” he said.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the property, the interior minister confirmed.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the blast comprised eleven more officers of the police force as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a firefighter.

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

The official thought the detonation had occurred on a story above the access point and told journalists it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the blast, he mentioned officers had “detected a whistling noise, probably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Community Reaction

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” nearby inhabitants informed local news, mentioning that the three had in the past stated to “blow themselves up” rather than leave the house.

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

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto stood alongside other political leaders in honoring the trio of personnel who had lost their lives in the service of their country.