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Three members of law enforcement perished and more than a dozen additional individuals were hurt in a seemingly deliberate blast caused by gas at a rural property in northern Italy.

How It Happened

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the residence close to Verona to execute an eviction order for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

The three victims who died served in the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were arrested at the location and one more individual who ran away following the explosion was apprehended shortly later. All three have been taken to medical facility.

The detonation could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the location revealed the property reduced to a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said the Minister of the Interior Minister Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the three siblings in the earlier times.

Financial Context

The president of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, said the property was facing an court order due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Mediators had been assigned to talk with the family members who had locked themselves into the house. When the officers arrived just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think one of the siblings set off the blast.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” regional commander the police commander told the media.

A gas canister had been ignited, and the detonation immediately struck our members,” he added.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the residence, the Interior Minister said.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the explosion comprised 11 other members of the military police as well as three members of Italy's state police and a fire services member.

Based on information from the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

The official thought the blast had happened on a floor above the entrance and stated to reporters it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the explosion, he said officers had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the gas canisters being turned on”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” neighbors informed Italian media, mentioning that the family members had in the past stated to “detonate the property” rather than vacate the property.

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

Minister of Defence Minister Crosetto joined other political leaders in commemorating the trio of personnel who had been killed in the service of their country.