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Three police officers lost their lives and at least 15 people got wounded in a seemingly deliberate gas explosion at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The detonation took place as law enforcement and fire personnel approached the property near Verona to execute an eviction order for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

Each of the three deceased individuals served in the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals got detained at the site and a third person who escaped after the incident was located not long after. All three have been taken to the hospital.

The blast could be audible approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the scene displayed the structure left as a mass of wreckage.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to displace the three siblings in the past.

Property Situation

The leader of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, stated the farmhouse was facing an court order due to debts accumulated by the property owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to speak to the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the home. When the Carabinieri came soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the siblings triggered the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” provincial police commander Claudio Papagno told the media.

A propane tank had been ignited, and the explosion precisely impacted our officers,” he added.

Incendiary devices were also located at the property, the minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the incident consisted of 11 other members of the police force as well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

According to the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a dilapidated shape and had was without power.

He thought the blast had occurred on a level above the access point and stated to reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the blast, he mentioned personnel had “heard a whistle, likely the gas cylinders being opened”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to local news, noting that the three had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto united with other elected representatives in honoring the trio of personnel who had been killed in the performance of their duties.