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Three police officers lost their lives and more than a dozen additional individuals got wounded in an apparently premeditated gas explosion at a rural property in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The explosion occurred as officers and emergency crews entered the house close to Verona to execute an eviction order for a brother and sister trio who were older adults.

The three victims who died belonged to the Carabinieri military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals were arrested at the scene and a third person who escaped after the incident was located not long after. Each of them have been taken to the hospital.

The explosion could be audible approximately 5 kilometers away and photographs from the area displayed the structure turned into a mass of wreckage.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Minister of the Interior Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to displace the three family members in the earlier times.

Financial Context

The president of the region of Veneto, the regional head, explained the property was under an eviction order due to financial obligations accumulated by the property owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been assigned to speak to the brothers and sister who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the police arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think one of the siblings set off the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” regional commander Claudio Papagno told news outlets.

A propane tank had been ignited, and the blast immediately struck our members,” he added.

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

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the explosion comprised an additional 11 personnel of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of Italy's state police and a emergency responder.

According to the prosecuting attorney, the building was in a dilapidated shape and had lacked electrical service.

The official thought the blast had happened on a level above the doorway and told journalists it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Moments before the blast, he mentioned personnel had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the propane tanks being opened”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents informed Italian media, mentioning that the trio had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto joined other political leaders in paying tribute to the three men who had lost their lives in the line of duty.