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Three members of law enforcement lost their lives and no fewer than 15 others got wounded in an apparently intentional gas explosion at a rural property in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The detonation occurred as officers and emergency crews entered the house close to Verona to execute an removal notice for three siblings who were older adults.

Each of the three victims who died served in the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals were taken into custody at the scene and one more individual who ran away subsequent to the incident was located soon after. All three have been admitted to hospital.

The blast could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the area displayed the structure turned into a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who noted that attempts had been made to evict the brother and sister trio in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The leader of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, stated the farmhouse was facing an removal notice due to debts accumulated by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to speak to the family members who had secured themselves into the house. When the Carabinieri arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think one of the siblings set off 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 ignited, and the explosion directly hit our personnel,” he explained.

Incendiary devices were also discovered at the property, the interior minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the explosion included eleven more officers of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a fire services member.

According to the local prosecutor, the property was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

The prosecutor was convinced the detonation had taken place on a story above the entrance and informed journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the blast, he mentioned officers had “detected a whistling noise, likely the propane tanks being activated”.

Community Reaction

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to Italian media, adding that the family members had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than vacate the property.

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

Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto stood alongside other elected representatives in honoring the trio of personnel who had been killed in the performance of their duties.