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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people got wounded in an apparently premeditated blast caused by gas at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The detonation was triggered as police and firefighters entered the house near the city of Verona to enforce an removal notice for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three officers killed served in the Carabinieri force.

Arrests and Aftermath

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and one more individual who escaped after the incident was found soon after. The trio have been transported to medical facility.

The detonation could be heard as far as 3 miles distant and photographs from the scene displayed the building left as a mass of wreckage.

“We are in a period of mourning,” commented the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who noted that efforts had been made to displace the three siblings in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The head of the Veneto region, President Zaia, stated the property was subject to an removal notice due to debts accumulated by the property owners.

Negotiators had been sent to engage the family members who had locked themselves into the house. When the police reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials suspect one of the residents caused the detonation.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” provincial police commander the police commander informed news outlets.

A gas canister had been set off, and the detonation precisely impacted our officers,” he added.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the site, the Interior Minister said.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the explosion consisted of eleven more officers of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

He was convinced the explosion had occurred on a story above the doorway and informed journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Moments before the blast, he mentioned personnel had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas canisters being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents told Italian media, adding that the family members had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

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

Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto joined other government officials in paying tribute to the three officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.