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Three police officers were killed and no fewer than 15 additional individuals sustained injuries in what appears to be intentional blast caused by gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The explosion was triggered as officers and emergency crews entered the residence near the city of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

The three deceased individuals served in the Carabinieri military police.

Legal Proceedings

Two individuals were taken into custody at the scene and one more individual who escaped subsequent to the incident was located shortly later. Each of them have been taken to hospital.

The explosion could be audible as far as 3 miles distant and photographs from the location displayed the structure reduced to a pile of rubble.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to displace the brother and sister trio in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The leader of the region of Veneto, the regional head, explained the residence was facing an court order due to unpaid amounts accumulated by the siblings.

Negotiators had been assigned to speak to the brothers and sister who had secured themselves into the property. When the officers came shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the siblings caused the detonation.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief Claudio Papagno stated to reporters.

A gas canister had been activated, and the detonation precisely impacted our members,” he explained.

Incendiary devices were also located at the property, the Interior Minister said.

Casualties and Damage

Those injured by the explosion comprised an additional 11 personnel of the police force as well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a derelict state and had no electricity.

The prosecutor believed the detonation had occurred on a story above the doorway and informed journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the incident, he said members had “detected a whistling noise, likely the gas cylinders being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents informed local news, adding that the family members had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than leave the house.

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

Minister of Defence Minister Crosetto joined other elected representatives in commemorating the three men who had been killed in the line of duty.