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Three members of law enforcement were killed and at least 15 people sustained injuries in an apparently intentional blast caused by gas at a country home in northern Italy.

Event Timeline

The detonation took place as police and firefighters entered the house in the vicinity of the Verona region to execute an eviction order for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

All three deceased individuals belonged to the Carabinieri force.

Legal Proceedings

One male and one female were taken into custody at the site and another man who escaped following the blast was found soon after. The trio have been taken to hospital.

The explosion could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and photographs from the scene revealed the building reduced to a heap of debris.

“This moment calls for sorrow,” commented Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to displace the three family members in the previous occasions.

Financial Context

The president of the region of Veneto, President Zaia, explained the residence was under an court order due to financial obligations accrued by the siblings.

Mediators had been sent to engage the family members who had secured themselves into the home. When the officers reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities suspect one of the siblings set off the detonation.

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

“A gas cylinder had been activated, and the explosion immediately struck our officers,” he said.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the residence, the Interior Minister stated.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the explosion included 11 other members of the military police as well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

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

He believed the detonation had happened on a floor above the doorway and stated to journalists it was a “intentional and planned killing”. Just prior to the blast, he mentioned personnel had “heard a whistle, presumably the gas canisters being turned on”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents informed Italian media, adding that the trio had earlier warned to “blow themselves up” rather than leave the house.

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

Defence Minister Minister Crosetto joined other political leaders in paying tribute to the three men who had been killed in the performance of their duties.