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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 people got wounded in what appears to be intentional detonation from gas at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Event Timeline

The blast took place as officers and emergency crews approached the property close to Verona to execute an eviction order for three siblings who were older adults.

Each of the three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals were taken into custody at the scene and one more individual who ran away after the explosion was apprehended shortly later. All three have been admitted to medical facility.

The detonation could be audible some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the area showed the property turned into a mass of wreckage.

“We are in a period of mourning,” commented the Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who mentioned that attempts had been made to remove the three family members in the past.

Financial Context

The leader of the Veneto area, the regional head, stated the farmhouse was under an eviction order due to financial obligations accrued by the property owners.

Mediators had been sent to talk with the siblings who had secured themselves into the property. When the officers reached the location just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe a family member caused the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” provincial police commander Claudio Papagno stated to news outlets.

A propane tank had been ignited, and the blast directly hit our personnel,” he added.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the site, the interior minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the explosion consisted of eleven more officers of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of Italy's state police and a fire services member.

Based on information from the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had lacked electrical service.

He believed the blast had occurred on a level above the access point and told the press it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Moments before the blast, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas canisters being turned on”.

Local Response

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors informed Italian media, adding that the three had earlier warned to “detonate the property” rather than vacate the property.

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

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto united with other elected representatives in commemorating the trio of personnel who had been killed in the performance of their duties.