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Three members of law enforcement lost their lives and no fewer than 15 people got wounded in a seemingly intentional gas explosion at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The detonation was triggered as police and firefighters went into the residence close to the city of Verona to carry out an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three officers killed belonged to the Italian military police.

Legal Proceedings

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and one more individual who ran away after the incident was found soon after. All three have been taken to the hospital.

The blast could be audible as far as 3 miles distant and footage from the area showed the building reduced to a heap of debris.

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

Background and Motive

The president of the Veneto area, Luca Zaia, stated the property was facing an removal notice due to debts accrued by the property owners.

Negotiators had been assigned to speak to the brothers and sister who had secured themselves into the property. When the officers arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think a family member caused the blast.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief Commander Papagno told news outlets.

A propane tank had been set off, and the blast directly hit our members,” he explained.

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

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the explosion consisted of 11 other members of the police force as well as three members of national police and a fire services member.

As stated by the Verona prosecutor, the building was in a poor condition and had lacked electrical service.

He was convinced the blast had taken place on a level above the doorway and told journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Moments before the blast, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas cylinders being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“We all knew the situation was dire,” nearby inhabitants told local news, mentioning that the three had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence Minister Crosetto joined other elected representatives in commemorating the three men who had been killed in the service of their country.