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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people sustained injuries in a seemingly premeditated gas explosion at a country home in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The blast took place as police and firefighters entered the property in the vicinity of the Verona region to enforce an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

Each of the three victims who died served in the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

One male and one female got detained at the site and one more individual who escaped following the explosion was located not long after. The trio have been transported to medical facility.

The detonation could be noticed as far as 3 miles distant and images from the location revealed the building turned into a mass of wreckage.

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

Background and Motive

The president of the Veneto region, President Zaia, stated the property was subject to an removal notice due to financial obligations incurred by the property owners.

Mediators had been assigned to engage the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the home. When the officers came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators think a family member triggered the explosion.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” provincial police commander the police commander told the media.

A propane tank had been ignited, and the blast immediately struck our officers,” he said.

Molotov cocktails were also located at the site, the Interior Minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the incident comprised eleven more officers of the police force as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a fire services member.

Based on information from the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had was without power.

The prosecutor thought the explosion had occurred on a story above the access point and stated to reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the incident, he said officers had “detected a whistling noise, presumably the gas cylinders being activated”.

Local Response

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents told Italian media, adding that the three had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

Defence Minister the Defence Minister stood alongside other elected representatives in paying tribute to the three officers who had lost their lives in the service of their country.