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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people sustained injuries in a seemingly deliberate gas explosion at a rural property in the northern part of Italy.

Sequence of Events

The explosion was triggered as law enforcement and fire personnel entered the house near Verona to enforce an eviction order for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three officers killed were members of the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals were arrested at the location and another man who escaped after the blast was found not long after. Each of them have been admitted to the hospital.

The blast could be audible some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the scene showed the property turned into a heap of debris.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to displace the brother and sister trio in the past.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto region, President Zaia, explained the residence was facing an court order due to unpaid amounts incurred by the three owners.

Mediators had been dispatched to engage the siblings who had secured themselves into the property. When the Carabinieri arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect one of the siblings triggered the detonation.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” provincial police commander Claudio Papagno told news outlets.

A gas canister had been set off, and the explosion directly hit our personnel,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the site, the minister confirmed.

Casualties and Damage

Injured individuals by the incident included an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

As stated by the local prosecutor, the property was in a derelict state and had no electricity.

He was convinced the blast had taken place on a floor above the doorway and informed journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the explosion, he mentioned personnel had “detected a whistling noise, likely the gas cylinders being opened”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” local residents stated to local news, noting that the trio had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than leave the house.

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

Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto united with other elected representatives in honoring the three officers who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.