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A trio of officers lost their lives and more than a dozen people were hurt in a seemingly premeditated gas explosion at a farmhouse in northern Italy.

Event Timeline

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the residence near the Verona region to carry out an court-ordered eviction for three siblings who were older adults.

All three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were taken into custody at the scene and one more individual who ran away after the blast was found shortly later. The trio have been taken to the hospital.

The detonation could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location showed the property reduced to a pile of rubble.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” said the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that previous tries had been made to remove the three siblings in the earlier times.

Financial Context

The president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, explained the property was facing an court order due to debts accrued by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to speak to the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the property. When the Carabinieri reached the location 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 the police commander told reporters.

A propane tank had been set off, and the blast immediately struck our officers,” he added.

Incendiary devices were also found at the site, the interior minister confirmed.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the explosion included an additional 11 personnel of the Carabinieri as well as three officers of national police and a fire services member.

According to the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had lacked electrical service.

The prosecutor was convinced the explosion had taken place on a level above the doorway and stated to reporters it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Shortly before the explosion, he said members had “detected a whistling noise, likely the gas canisters being activated”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” nearby inhabitants stated to Italian media, noting that the family members had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than leave the house.

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

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister united with other government officials in commemorating the three men who had lost their lives in the line of duty.