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Three police officers lost their lives and at least 15 additional individuals were hurt in what appears to be premeditated gas explosion at a farmhouse in the northern part of Italy.

Sequence of Events

The explosion occurred as law enforcement and fire personnel went into the property in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an removal notice for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

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

Legal Proceedings

Two individuals got detained at the site and one more individual who fled subsequent to the blast was located shortly later. Each of them have been transported to medical facility.

The blast could be noticed as far as 3 miles distant and images from the location showed the building turned into a pile of rubble.

“We are in a period of mourning,” stated the Minister of the Interior the Interior Minister, who mentioned that previous tries had been made to evict the three family members in the past.

Property Situation

The head of the region of Veneto, the regional head, stated the farmhouse was facing an eviction order due to debts incurred by the three owners.

Negotiators had been dispatched to speak to the siblings who had secured themselves into the property. When the officers reached the location shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials think one of the siblings caused the blast.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” regional commander the police commander informed news outlets.

A gas canister had been activated, and the detonation directly hit our members,” he added.

Petrol bombs were also discovered at the property, the Interior Minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

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

Based on information from the local prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had was without power.

The official was convinced the explosion had occurred on a story above the doorway and told journalists it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Shortly before the blast, he revealed personnel had “heard a whistle, presumably the propane tanks being opened”.

Neighbor Statements

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” local residents informed local news, adding that the trio had in the past stated to “blow themselves up” rather than leave the house.

“The incident exacted a ‘dreadful, extremely sad and dramatic price’.”

The Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stood alongside other elected representatives in paying tribute to the three men who had been killed in the service of their country.