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Three police officers perished and more than a dozen others sustained injuries in a seemingly intentional gas explosion at a country home in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The blast was triggered as officers and emergency crews approached the residence in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three victims who died were members of the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

One male and one female were arrested at the site and another man who fled subsequent to the explosion was found shortly later. The trio have been transported to the hospital.

The detonation could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the area showed the building reduced to a mass of wreckage.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” said Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who added that previous tries had been made to remove the brother and sister trio in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The leader of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, explained the farmhouse was under an court order due to debts incurred by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been dispatched to speak to the family members who had locked themselves into the property. When the police came soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials believe one of the residents triggered the blast.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief the police commander informed the media.

A propane tank had been activated, and the detonation precisely impacted our officers,” he explained.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the residence, the Interior Minister stated.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the incident consisted of 11 other members of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a poor condition and had was without power.

The official thought the blast had happened on a floor above the doorway and informed journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the blast, he said personnel had “heard a whistle, presumably the propane tanks being opened”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors informed reporters, adding that the three had in the past stated to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto united with other government officials in paying tribute to the three officers who had been killed in the performance of their duties.