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Three police officers lost their lives and more than a dozen others were hurt in an apparently intentional detonation from gas at a rural property in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The blast occurred as officers and emergency crews approached the residence in the vicinity of the city of Verona to carry out an court-ordered eviction for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

Each of the three victims who died belonged to the Carabinieri force.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals were taken into custody at the location and a third person who fled following the blast was found not long after. Each of them have been transported to hospital.

The blast could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location displayed the property left as a mass of wreckage.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” commented Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who mentioned that efforts had been made to evict the brother and sister trio in the past.

Financial Context

The president of the Veneto area, President Zaia, said the residence was under an eviction order due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Negotiators had been dispatched to engage the family members who had barricaded themselves into the property. When the police reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the residents set off the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” regional commander Commander Papagno stated to reporters.

“A gas cylinder had been set off, and the blast directly hit our officers,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also found at the property, the Interior Minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the incident comprised 11 other members of the Carabinieri as well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

According to the prosecuting attorney, the building was in a derelict state and had was without power.

The official was convinced the detonation had happened on a story above the doorway and informed reporters it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the incident, he mentioned members had “heard a whistle, likely the gas canisters being opened”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” nearby inhabitants informed Italian media, mentioning that the three had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than leave the house.

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

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister joined other elected representatives in paying tribute to the three men who had been killed in the line of duty.