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Three members of law enforcement were killed and no fewer than 15 people got wounded in what appears to be premeditated gas explosion at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The explosion was triggered as police and firefighters entered the residence in the vicinity of Verona to execute an removal notice for two brothers and a sister in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three deceased individuals belonged to the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman got detained at the scene and another man who escaped after the incident was located soon after. Each of them have been admitted to medical facility.

The explosion could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location revealed the structure left as a pile of rubble.

“We are in a period of mourning,” commented the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that attempts had been made to evict the three siblings in the previous occasions.

Property Situation

The leader of the Veneto region, President Zaia, explained the farmhouse was under an removal notice due to debts incurred by the siblings.

Negotiators had been assigned to talk with the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the home. When the Carabinieri came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect a family member caused the detonation.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” regional commander the police commander stated to reporters.

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

Petrol bombs were also located at the residence, the Interior Minister confirmed.

Injuries and Destruction

Injured individuals by the incident consisted of an additional 11 personnel of the military police as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a derelict state and had was without power.

The prosecutor believed the blast had occurred on a level above the entrance and informed journalists it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Moments before the blast, he mentioned members had “heard a whistle, probably the gas canisters being opened”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents told Italian media, adding that the trio had previously threatened to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto joined other political leaders in honoring the three men who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.