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A trio of officers were killed and more than a dozen people sustained injuries in what appears to be intentional gas explosion at a country home in northern Italy.

Sequence of Events

The detonation took place as law enforcement and fire personnel approached the house near the Verona region to enforce an court-ordered eviction for two brothers and a sister who were older adults.

The three officers killed were members of the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

One male and one female were arrested at the scene and another man who fled after the blast was located shortly later. All three have been transported to medical facility.

The detonation could be noticed some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the location displayed the building reduced to a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to evict the brother and sister trio in the earlier times.

Financial Context

The president of the region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, explained the property was facing an eviction order due to financial obligations accumulated by the three owners.

Conflict resolution experts had been sent to engage the family members who had locked themselves into the house. When the police reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the residents triggered the explosion.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” local police chief Claudio Papagno informed reporters.

A propane tank had been activated, and the blast immediately struck our personnel,” he said.

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

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the blast comprised eleven more officers of the military police as well as three members of the state police and a fire services member.

According to the local prosecutor, the property was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

The official was convinced the blast had occurred on a floor above the entrance and stated to reporters it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Just prior to the incident, he said personnel had “heard a whistle, presumably the propane tanks being opened”.

Neighbor Statements

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” local residents informed reporters, mentioning that the trio had earlier warned to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

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

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto joined other government officials in paying tribute to the three officers who had lost their lives in the performance of their duties.