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A trio of officers were killed and at least 15 others got wounded in an apparently intentional detonation from gas at a country home in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The explosion occurred as officers and emergency crews went into the house near Verona to execute an eviction order for three siblings who were older adults.

The three victims who died served in the Carabinieri military police.

Legal Proceedings

Two individuals were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who fled after the incident was found soon after. All three have been admitted to hospital.

The blast could be audible as far as 3 miles distant and photographs from the area displayed the structure left as a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” said the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to evict the three siblings in the earlier times.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto region, President Zaia, explained the property was under an court order due to financial obligations incurred by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been assigned to engage the siblings who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the police arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe a family member caused the detonation.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” provincial police commander Commander Papagno told the media.

“A gas cylinder had been set off, and the detonation precisely impacted our members,” he added.

Petrol bombs were also located at the site, the Interior Minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the blast included 11 other members of the police force as well as three members of national police and a fire services member.

As stated by the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

The prosecutor believed the blast had taken place on a story above the access point and informed reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the blast, he mentioned officers had “heard a whistle, likely the gas canisters being activated”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” nearby inhabitants told local news, adding that the family members had in the past stated to “detonate the property” rather than leave the house.

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

The Defense Minister the Defence Minister joined other political leaders in honoring the trio of personnel who had lost their lives in the service of their country.