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Three members of law enforcement were killed and at least 15 others got wounded in an apparently premeditated blast caused by gas at a country home in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The explosion was triggered as police and firefighters went into the property close to Verona to execute an removal notice for a brother and sister trio in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three officers killed were members of the Carabinieri force.

Arrests and Aftermath

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who fled after the incident was apprehended not long after. All three have been admitted to the hospital.

The explosion could be heard approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the location showed the building reduced to a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” said the Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that efforts had been made to evict the three family members in the past.

Financial Context

The head of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, stated the farmhouse was subject to an court order due to financial obligations incurred by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been dispatched to talk with the siblings who had secured themselves into the house. When the officers arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities think one of the siblings caused the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” regional commander Commander Papagno informed reporters.

A propane tank had been activated, and the detonation precisely impacted our officers,” he said.

Petrol bombs were also located at the residence, the interior minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the incident included an additional 11 personnel of the police force as well as three members of national police and a firefighter.

As stated by the local prosecutor, the property was in a derelict state and had was without power.

The official thought the blast had occurred on a level above the access point and told the press it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Just prior to the incident, he said personnel had “noticed a hissing sound, likely the propane tanks being activated”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” nearby inhabitants stated to reporters, noting that the three had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto joined other government officials in honoring the three officers who had died in the performance of their duties.