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A trio of officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people sustained injuries in what appears to be deliberate gas explosion at a rural property in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The detonation took place as officers and emergency crews went into the house in the vicinity of the Verona region to enforce an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister aged in their 50s and 60s.

All three deceased individuals were members of the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the site and another man who fled subsequent to the incident was found soon after. The trio have been taken to medical facility.

The detonation could be heard as far as 3 miles distant and photographs from the location showed the structure turned into a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” commented the Minister of the Interior Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that efforts had been made to displace the three siblings in the earlier times.

Background and Motive

The leader of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, stated the farmhouse was subject to an eviction order due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Negotiators had been sent to talk with the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the house. When the police came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe a family member set off the detonation.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” provincial police commander Claudio Papagno told news outlets.

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

Petrol bombs were also found at the property, the interior minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the blast included eleven more officers of the Carabinieri as well as three officers of national police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the prosecuting attorney, the farmhouse was in a derelict state and had was without power.

He was convinced the explosion had taken place on a level above the doorway and stated to reporters it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Moments before the explosion, he mentioned officers had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Community Reaction

“We all knew the situation was dire,” local residents informed Italian media, mentioning that the trio had in the past stated to “detonate the property” rather than leave the house.

“The explosion had left a ‘terrible, very painful and dramatic toll’.”

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto united with other political leaders in commemorating the three men who had died in the performance of their duties.