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Three members of law enforcement lost their lives and at least 15 others were hurt in an apparently intentional blast caused by gas at a country home in northern Italy.

How It Happened

The blast occurred as officers and emergency crews entered the property in the vicinity of the Verona region to enforce an removal notice for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

Each of the three officers killed served in the Carabinieri military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals were taken into custody at the site and one more individual who escaped after the incident was found not long after. All three have been admitted to hospital.

The detonation could be audible as far as 3 miles distant and footage from the scene revealed the building left as a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said the Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who noted that previous tries had been made to evict the three siblings in the earlier times.

Background and Motive

The president of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, stated the property was subject to an removal notice due to debts accumulated by the siblings.

Mediators had been assigned to speak to the siblings who had locked themselves into the house. When the Carabinieri arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe a family member triggered the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” provincial police commander the police commander stated to the media.

A gas canister had been ignited, and the explosion immediately struck our officers,” he added.

Incendiary devices were also discovered at the residence, the Interior Minister said.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the explosion comprised eleven more officers of the military police as well as three officers of the state police and a firefighter.

As stated by the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a dilapidated shape and had lacked electrical service.

The official thought the blast had happened on a level above the access point and stated to the press it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the blast, he revealed personnel had “heard a whistle, presumably the propane tanks being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“We all knew the situation was dire,” local residents informed local news, adding that the three had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stood alongside other political leaders in commemorating the trio of personnel who had died in the line of duty.