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Three police officers lost their lives and more than a dozen additional individuals sustained injuries in a seemingly premeditated gas explosion at a country home in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The detonation occurred as officers and emergency crews entered the residence near the Verona region to enforce an court-ordered eviction for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three officers killed were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were arrested at the location and one more individual who fled following the blast was apprehended not long after. Each of them have been admitted to medical facility.

The explosion could be audible approximately 5 kilometers away and images from the scene showed the building turned into a pile of rubble.

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

Background and Motive

The president of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, said the residence was subject to an removal notice due to financial obligations accrued by the property owners.

Mediators had been dispatched to speak to the family members who had locked themselves into the home. When the Carabinieri arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think one of the residents caused the explosion.

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

“A gas cylinder had been activated, and the detonation precisely impacted our officers,” he said.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the site, the interior minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

Injured individuals by the explosion included eleven more officers of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a fire services member.

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

He believed the detonation had occurred on a story above the entrance and stated to journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the explosion, he said officers had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the gas canisters being activated”.

Local Response

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” nearby inhabitants told Italian media, mentioning that the trio had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

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

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto joined other political leaders in commemorating the three officers who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.