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A trio of officers perished and more than a dozen people were hurt in an apparently premeditated detonation from gas at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The detonation occurred as officers and emergency crews entered the house in the vicinity of the city of Verona to carry out an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three officers killed were members of the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and a third person who ran away following the blast was apprehended shortly later. Each of them have been admitted to hospital.

The explosion could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location revealed the property left as a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that efforts had been made to displace the three siblings in the past.

Property Situation

The head of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, stated the property was subject to an eviction order due to unpaid amounts accrued by the property owners.

Mediators had been assigned to speak to the siblings who had barricaded themselves into the house. When the officers reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect one of the residents caused the detonation.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” regional commander Commander Papagno informed reporters.

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

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the residence, the interior minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the explosion included an additional 11 personnel of the police force 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 derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

The prosecutor thought the explosion had occurred on a floor above the access point and stated to journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the explosion, he revealed personnel had “noticed a hissing sound, likely the gas canisters being turned on”.

Community Reaction

“We all knew the situation was dire,” nearby inhabitants told local news, adding that the trio had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than leave the house.

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

The Defense Minister the Defence Minister joined other political leaders in commemorating the three officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.