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Three police officers were killed and at least 15 others were hurt in an apparently intentional detonation from gas at a country home in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The detonation took place as law enforcement and fire personnel entered the house close to the Verona region to execute an removal notice for a brother and sister trio who were older adults.

All three officers killed belonged to the Carabinieri military police.

Legal Proceedings

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and one more individual who escaped following the explosion was located not long after. Each of them have been transported to medical facility.

The blast could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the area showed the property turned into a pile of rubble.

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

Background and Motive

The leader of the Veneto region, the regional head, explained the residence was under an eviction order due to unpaid amounts accumulated by the siblings.

Conflict resolution experts had been dispatched to speak to the family members who had locked themselves into the property. When the officers came just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the residents triggered the detonation.

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

A gas canister had been activated, and the blast precisely impacted our officers,” he explained.

Molotov cocktails were also located at the residence, the interior minister said.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the incident included 11 other members of the police force as well as three members of national police and a emergency responder.

As stated by the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

He thought the blast had occurred on a story above the entrance and told reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Moments before the incident, he revealed members had “detected a whistling noise, presumably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents told local news, adding that the three had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

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

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stood alongside other political leaders in honoring the trio of personnel who had died in the performance of their duties.