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A trio of officers lost their lives and more than a dozen others were hurt in an apparently intentional blast caused by gas at a country home in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The detonation occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel approached the property close to Verona to carry out an eviction order for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

Each of the three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were taken into custody at the scene and a third person who fled subsequent to the incident was located soon after. Each of them have been taken to hospital.

The detonation could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the area revealed the building turned into a mass of wreckage.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that efforts had been made to evict the three siblings in the previous occasions.

Financial Context

The president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, said the residence was facing an court order due to unpaid amounts accrued by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to talk with the siblings who had locked themselves into the property. When the Carabinieri arrived just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities think a family member triggered the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” local police chief Commander Papagno informed reporters.

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

Molotov cocktails were also found at the site, the interior minister confirmed.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the incident consisted of an additional 11 personnel of the police force as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a emergency responder.

As stated by the prosecuting attorney, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

The official thought the blast had happened on a floor above the access point and stated to the press it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the blast, he said officers had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas cylinders being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to local news, mentioning that the three had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto joined other government officials in honoring the three officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.