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Three police officers lost their lives and more than a dozen additional individuals got wounded in a seemingly intentional gas explosion at a rural property in the northern part of Italy.

How It Happened

The detonation occurred as officers and emergency crews entered the residence close to the city of Verona to enforce an removal notice for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three officers killed served in the Italian military police.

Legal Proceedings

A man and a woman were arrested at the location and a third person who ran away subsequent to the blast was apprehended soon after. All three have been transported to hospital.

The detonation could be audible approximately 5 kilometers away and footage from the scene revealed the building turned into a pile of rubble.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” commented Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the three family members in the previous occasions.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto area, President Zaia, stated the farmhouse was facing an court order due to debts accumulated by the three owners.

Negotiators had been sent to talk with the siblings who had barricaded themselves into the home. When the police reached the location shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials believe a family member caused the detonation.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” regional commander Claudio Papagno told the media.

“A gas cylinder had been ignited, and the detonation immediately struck our personnel,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also located at the site, the Interior Minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the explosion comprised an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as three officers of national police and a fire services member.

As stated by the Verona prosecutor, the building was in a dilapidated shape and had was without power.

The official thought the blast had occurred on a level above the access point and stated to the press it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Moments before the explosion, he said personnel had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Community Reaction

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” nearby inhabitants stated to reporters, adding that the family members had in the past stated to “detonate the property” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto stood alongside other government officials in commemorating the three officers who had been killed in the performance of their duties.