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Three police officers were killed and at least 15 people sustained injuries in what appears to be premeditated detonation from gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The explosion took place as officers and emergency crews entered the residence near the Verona region to carry out an eviction order for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

All three victims who died were members of the Italian military police.

Investigation Developments

Two individuals got detained at the scene and another man who fled after the incident was found soon after. The trio have been taken to the hospital.

The explosion could be audible some 5km (3 miles) away and footage from the location revealed the property turned into a pile of rubble.

“This is a time for grieving,” said the Minister of the Interior the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to displace the three family members in the previous occasions.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto area, the regional head, stated the residence was under an removal notice due to unpaid amounts accrued by the siblings.

Negotiators had been sent to engage the brothers and sister who had secured themselves into the home. When the officers arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the residents caused the blast.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief the police commander told reporters.

A propane tank had been set off, and the detonation immediately struck our personnel,” he explained.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the residence, the minister said.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the explosion comprised eleven more officers of the Carabinieri as well as three members of national police and a firefighter.

Based on information from the prosecuting attorney, the property was in a dilapidated shape and had no electricity.

He was convinced the detonation had taken place on a level above the doorway and stated to journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the blast, he mentioned personnel had “detected a whistling noise, likely the gas canisters being opened”.

Local Response

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors informed reporters, noting that the three had in the past stated to “blow themselves up” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stood alongside other government officials in honoring the three officers who had died in the line of duty.