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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people were hurt in what appears to be deliberate gas explosion at a country home in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The explosion occurred as officers and emergency crews went into the house near the Verona region to enforce an removal notice for three siblings aged in their 50s and 60s.

All three victims who died were members of the Carabinieri force.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who fled after the incident was located shortly later. All three have been taken to the hospital.

The blast could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the scene revealed the property left as a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated the Minister of the Interior Minister Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to evict the three family members in the past.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto area, President Zaia, explained the farmhouse was facing an eviction order due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Negotiators had been sent to speak to the siblings who had barricaded themselves into the home. When the police came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the residents set off the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief Claudio Papagno informed the media.

“A gas cylinder had been activated, and the blast directly hit our officers,” he said.

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

Impact Assessment

Injured individuals by the blast consisted of an additional 11 personnel of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of Italy's state police and a emergency responder.

Based on information from the Verona prosecutor, the building was in a derelict state and had lacked electrical service.

He was convinced the blast had occurred on a floor above the entrance and told reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Shortly before the explosion, he mentioned officers had “heard a whistle, probably the propane tanks being turned on”.

Community Reaction

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors informed Italian media, noting that the family members had previously threatened to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

“The explosion had left a ‘terrible, very painful and dramatic toll’.”

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto united with other elected representatives in honoring the trio of personnel who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.