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A trio of officers lost their lives and more than a dozen others sustained injuries in what appears to be premeditated blast caused by gas at a country home in the northern part of Italy.

How It Happened

The blast was triggered as police and firefighters entered the residence in the vicinity of Verona to execute an eviction order for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

All three victims who died belonged to the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals were taken into custody at the scene and another man who escaped after the blast was apprehended not long after. All three have been transported to the hospital.

The blast could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the scene displayed the structure reduced to a heap of debris.

“This is a time for grieving,” commented the Minister of the Interior the Interior Minister, who added that attempts had been made to displace the three family members in the earlier times.

Property Situation

The president of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, explained the farmhouse was under an removal notice due to financial obligations accrued by the property owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to talk with the brothers and sister who had barricaded themselves into the home. When the Carabinieri arrived soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials believe one of the residents caused the blast.

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

“A gas cylinder had been ignited, and the explosion directly hit our officers,” he explained.

Petrol bombs were also located at the site, the interior minister confirmed.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the incident included an additional 11 personnel of the Carabinieri as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a fire services member.

According to the prosecuting attorney, the building was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

The prosecutor believed the blast had taken place on a floor above the entrance and stated to reporters it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Moments before the blast, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, presumably the gas cylinders being opened”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors told reporters, 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’.”

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister stood alongside other elected representatives in honoring the trio of personnel who had lost their lives in the service of their country.