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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people got wounded in what appears to be intentional detonation from gas at a farmhouse in northern Italy.

Event Timeline

The detonation occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel entered the residence in the vicinity of the Verona region to execute an eviction order for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three deceased individuals served in the Italian military police.

Legal Proceedings

A man and a woman were arrested at the location and one more individual who fled following the blast was located shortly later. All three have been transported to the hospital.

The blast could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the scene revealed the building turned into a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” commented Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who noted that attempts had been made to remove the three siblings in the past.

Background and Motive

The leader of the Veneto region, President Zaia, stated the property was under an court order due to debts accrued by the property owners.

Mediators had been assigned to engage the family members who had secured themselves into the home. When the police came soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the residents caused the detonation.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” provincial police commander Claudio Papagno told news outlets.

A propane tank had been activated, and the explosion immediately struck our officers,” he added.

Petrol bombs were also found at the site, the minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the incident included eleven more officers of the police force as well as three officers of national police and a fire services member.

According to the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

The prosecutor was convinced the blast had taken place on a floor above the access point and informed journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Shortly before the incident, he mentioned officers had “noticed a hissing sound, likely the propane tanks being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“We all knew the situation was dire,” local residents informed local news, noting that the three had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

“The blast resulted in a ‘horrific, deeply distressing and tragic cost’.”

The Defense Minister the Defence Minister stood alongside other political leaders in honoring the three officers who had been killed in the performance of their duties.