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Three members of law enforcement lost their lives and at least 15 others got wounded in what appears to be deliberate detonation from gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The explosion occurred as officers and emergency crews approached the property near the city of Verona to execute an eviction order for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

Each of the three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and another man who escaped after the explosion was located soon after. The trio have been admitted to medical facility.

The detonation could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the location displayed the property left as a heap of debris.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” stated the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to evict the three siblings in the past.

Financial Context

The head of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, stated the residence was subject to an eviction order due to unpaid amounts accumulated by the property owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to talk with the family members who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the officers came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect one of the siblings triggered the explosion.

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

“A gas cylinder had been activated, and the explosion directly hit our members,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also located at the residence, the Interior Minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the explosion consisted of 11 other members of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a derelict state and had was without power.

The prosecutor thought the explosion had taken place on a story above the entrance and informed the press it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the blast, he said members had “detected a whistling noise, probably the gas cylinders being activated”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents informed reporters, adding that the family members had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

“The explosion had left a ‘terrible, very painful and dramatic toll’.”

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stood alongside other government officials in commemorating the three men who had died in the performance of their duties.