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Three police officers were killed and at least 15 people sustained injuries in what appears to be intentional detonation from gas at a country home in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel approached the property in the vicinity of the Verona region to enforce an removal notice for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals were members of the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and one more individual who ran away after the explosion was found not long after. Each of them have been admitted to hospital.

The detonation could be heard as far as 3 miles distant and images from the area showed the structure turned into a heap of debris.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to evict the three siblings in the earlier times.

Financial Context

The president of the Veneto region, the regional head, explained the farmhouse was facing an eviction order due to debts accumulated by the three owners.

Mediators had been assigned to engage the family members who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the police arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities think a family member triggered the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief the police commander informed reporters.

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

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

Injuries and Destruction

The wounded by the incident comprised 11 other members of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a firefighter.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

He was convinced the explosion had taken place on a story above the entrance and told reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the blast, he said members had “heard a whistle, likely the gas canisters being turned on”.

Local Response

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” nearby inhabitants informed local news, adding that the three had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto joined other elected representatives in paying tribute to the three men who had died in the performance of their duties.