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A trio of officers perished and more than a dozen people got wounded in an apparently intentional blast caused by gas at a country home in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The blast took place as officers and emergency crews approached the residence close to Verona to carry out an eviction order for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals belonged to the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals got detained at the scene and a third person who ran away following the explosion was apprehended shortly later. Each of them have been admitted to medical facility.

The detonation could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the scene revealed the property turned into a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” commented Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the brother and sister trio in the past.

Financial Context

The leader of the Veneto area, President Zaia, said the property was under an eviction order due to debts accrued by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to engage the family members who had secured themselves into the property. When the officers came soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials suspect a family member set off the detonation.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” local police chief Commander Papagno informed reporters.

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

Petrol bombs were also located at the property, the interior minister confirmed.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the incident comprised an additional 11 personnel of the police force as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a firefighter.

According to the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

The prosecutor believed the explosion had happened on a story above the entrance and told journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Moments before the explosion, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, likely the gas canisters being turned on”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents informed local news, noting that the three 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 Guido Crosetto stood alongside other political leaders in paying tribute to the three men who had been killed in the line of duty.