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Three police officers were killed and at least 15 additional individuals got wounded in an apparently premeditated detonation from gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The blast took place as officers and emergency crews entered the property in the vicinity of Verona to execute an eviction order for a brother and sister trio in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the scene and a third person who escaped subsequent to the explosion was apprehended soon after. Each of them have been transported to the hospital.

The explosion could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the area showed the building turned into a pile of rubble.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who added that previous tries had been made to displace the three family members in the past.

Property Situation

The president of the Veneto area, the regional head, said the property was under an eviction order due to financial obligations incurred by the siblings.

Negotiators had been sent to engage the siblings who had locked themselves into the property. When the officers came soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators think one of the residents caused the explosion.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” local police chief Claudio Papagno informed the media.

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

Petrol bombs were also located at the site, the Interior Minister said.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the incident comprised eleven more officers of the military police as well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

According to the prosecuting attorney, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

The official was convinced the explosion had taken place on a story above the doorway and stated to the press it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the explosion, he revealed officers had “noticed a hissing sound, likely the propane tanks being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors told reporters, noting that the trio had earlier warned to “detonate the property” rather than vacate the property.

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

Defence Minister the Defence Minister stood alongside other elected representatives in honoring the three men who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.