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Three members of law enforcement perished and at least 15 others were hurt in an apparently intentional gas explosion at a farmhouse in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The detonation took place as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the house in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

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

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were arrested at the location and a third person who fled after the incident was apprehended shortly later. Each of them have been admitted to the hospital.

The explosion could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the area revealed the property left as a heap of debris.

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

Financial Context

The president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, explained the farmhouse was facing an court order due to financial obligations incurred by the three owners.

Mediators had been sent to speak to the brothers and sister who had secured themselves into the home. When the officers came just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think a family member triggered the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” provincial police commander the police commander informed news outlets.

A gas canister had been ignited, and the blast directly hit our officers,” he said.

Molotov cocktails were also discovered at the site, the Interior Minister confirmed.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the explosion included 11 other members of the police force as well as a trio of personnel of national police and a firefighter.

As stated by the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a dilapidated shape and had lacked electrical service.

He thought the explosion had taken place on a floor above the entrance and told reporters it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the explosion, he mentioned personnel had “heard a whistle, presumably the gas canisters being activated”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors informed local news, noting that the family members had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence the Defence Minister joined other government officials in commemorating the three officers who had been killed in the line of duty.