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Three police officers lost their lives and at least 15 people sustained injuries in a seemingly deliberate detonation from gas at a country home in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The blast took place as officers and emergency crews went into the house near the Verona region to carry out an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

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

Investigation Developments

One male and one female were taken into custody at the site and a third person who escaped after the incident was apprehended shortly later. All three have been taken to the hospital.

The explosion could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the area showed the structure left as a pile of rubble.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who noted that efforts had been made to remove the brother and sister trio in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The leader of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, stated the farmhouse was under an court order due to debts incurred by the property owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been assigned to talk with the family members who had secured themselves into the home. When the officers reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the siblings set off the blast.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” provincial police commander Commander Papagno informed the media.

A gas canister had been activated, and the detonation directly hit our officers,” he said.

Incendiary devices were also found at the residence, the interior minister said.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the incident consisted of eleven more officers of the Carabinieri as well as three officers of the state police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had lacked electrical service.

He believed the explosion had occurred on a level above the access point and informed the press it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the blast, he revealed officers had “detected a whistling noise, probably the gas cylinders being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” nearby inhabitants informed Italian media, mentioning that the three had in the past stated to “detonate the property” rather than vacate the property.

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

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto joined other government officials in commemorating the trio of personnel who had died in the line of duty.