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Three members of law enforcement perished and no fewer than 15 people were hurt in what appears to be intentional gas explosion at a country home in the northern part of Italy.

Sequence of Events

The blast took place as police and firefighters entered the property close to the Verona region to execute an removal notice for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three officers killed served in the Carabinieri force.

Legal Proceedings

One male and one female were arrested at the site and another man who escaped following the blast was apprehended shortly later. The trio have been transported to hospital.

The blast could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and images from the location showed the property reduced to a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said Interior Minister Minister Piantedosi, who noted that efforts had been made to evict the three siblings in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The president of the Veneto region, President Zaia, said the farmhouse was under an removal notice due to debts accrued by the property owners.

Mediators had been sent to speak to the family members who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the officers reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials believe one of the residents set off the detonation.

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

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

Molotov cocktails were also located at the property, the interior minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the explosion included 11 other members of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a fire services member.

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

The official was convinced the detonation had happened on a level above the access point and told journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the blast, he revealed officers had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the propane tanks being opened”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors stated to reporters, mentioning that the three had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than leave the house.

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

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto joined other elected representatives in commemorating the three men who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.