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A trio of officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people were hurt in a seemingly premeditated gas explosion at a farmhouse in the northern part of Italy.

How It Happened

The detonation took place as officers and emergency crews went into the house near Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the location and a third person who ran away subsequent to the blast was found shortly later. Each of them have been taken to the hospital.

The detonation could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the area showed the building turned into a heap of debris.

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

Background and Motive

The head of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, said the property was subject to an court order due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Negotiators had been sent to speak to the siblings who had locked themselves into the property. When the officers reached the location shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials suspect one of the residents set off the detonation.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” regional commander Claudio Papagno told reporters.

A gas canister had been activated, and the blast directly hit our officers,” he added.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the property, the minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the blast included eleven more officers of the military police as well as three members of the state police and a firefighter.

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

The official believed the explosion had taken place on a story above the access point and told the press it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the explosion, he revealed officers had “detected a whistling noise, presumably the propane tanks being opened”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents told Italian media, noting that the family members had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence Minister Crosetto stood alongside other government officials in paying tribute to the three officers who had been killed in the line of duty.