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Three police officers lost their lives and at least 15 people were hurt in an apparently premeditated gas explosion at a country home in northern Italy.

Event Timeline

The blast occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel approached the residence in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an removal notice for a brother and sister trio in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three victims who died belonged to the Italian military police.

Legal Proceedings

Two individuals were arrested at the location and another man who fled subsequent to the incident was apprehended not long after. The trio have been transported to hospital.

The detonation could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and photographs from the scene showed the building reduced to a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who added that efforts had been made to displace the three family members in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The leader of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, stated the residence was under an removal notice due to financial obligations accrued by the property owners.

Mediators 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), investigators suspect a family member caused the detonation.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” regional commander the police commander told reporters.

“A gas cylinder had been activated, and the detonation directly hit our officers,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the residence, the minister confirmed.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the blast included 11 other members of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a firefighter.

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

The official thought the explosion had happened on a floor above the entrance and stated to reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the explosion, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas canisters being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents informed reporters, noting that the family members had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto stood alongside other political leaders in commemorating the three officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.