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A trio of officers lost their lives and more than a dozen others were hurt in what appears to be intentional blast caused by gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The detonation took place as officers and emergency crews entered the house close to the Verona region to carry out an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three officers killed were members of the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals were arrested at the site and another man who ran away following the explosion was apprehended soon after. All three have been admitted to the hospital.

The blast could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and images from the location revealed the property turned into a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Minister of the Interior the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to displace the three family members in the previous occasions.

Background and Motive

The president of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, said the residence was under an court order due to debts accumulated by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been assigned to speak to the family members who had barricaded themselves into the home. When the Carabinieri reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators think a family member caused the blast.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” local police chief the police commander informed reporters.

“A gas cylinder had been ignited, and the blast immediately struck our members,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the residence, the Interior Minister said.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the incident comprised an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as three officers of national police and a firefighter.

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the building was in a dilapidated shape and had lacked electrical service.

He was convinced the explosion had taken place on a level above the entrance and told the press it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the incident, he said officers had “heard a whistle, probably the gas cylinders being activated”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to reporters, noting that the family members had earlier warned to “detonate the property” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister the Defence Minister united with other political leaders in commemorating the three officers who had been killed in the service of their country.