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A trio of officers perished and at least 15 people were hurt in a seemingly deliberate gas explosion at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The explosion was triggered as police and firefighters entered the property in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an removal notice for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three officers killed belonged to the Carabinieri military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals got detained at the scene and a third person who fled after the blast was found not long after. The trio have been admitted to hospital.

The blast could be audible some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the location showed the property reduced to a mass of wreckage.

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

Background and Motive

The leader of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, stated the property was facing an eviction order due to unpaid amounts accrued by the property owners.

Mediators had been assigned to engage the family members who had barricaded themselves into the home. When the officers arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe a family member set off the blast.

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

A propane tank had been activated, and the detonation immediately struck our members,” he added.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the property, the Interior Minister said.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the incident included an additional 11 personnel of the police force as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a fire services member.

According to the Verona prosecutor, the property was in a derelict state and had no electricity.

The prosecutor believed the detonation had happened on a floor above the entrance and informed journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the explosion, he said personnel had “detected a whistling noise, likely the propane tanks being opened”.

Community Reaction

“We all knew the situation was dire,” local residents stated to reporters, adding that the family members had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than vacate the property.

“The blast resulted in a ‘horrific, deeply distressing and tragic cost’.”

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto joined other political leaders in paying tribute to the three officers who had died in the service of their country.