🔗 Share this article

Three police officers were killed and more than a dozen others sustained injuries in a seemingly intentional detonation from gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The detonation took place as officers and emergency crews went into the house close to the city of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for three siblings in their late 50s and mid-60s.

All three deceased individuals served in the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

Two individuals got detained at the site and another man who ran away subsequent to the blast was apprehended not long after. All three have been transported to medical facility.

The detonation could be noticed approximately 5 kilometers away and photographs from the location showed the building turned into a heap of debris.

“We are in a period of mourning,” said the Minister of the Interior Minister Piantedosi, who noted that previous tries had been made to evict the three siblings in the earlier times.

Financial Context

The leader of the Veneto region, President Zaia, explained the residence was facing an eviction order due to debts incurred by the three owners.

Mediators had been sent to talk with the brothers and sister who had locked themselves into the home. When the Carabinieri reached the location soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), officials believe one of the siblings caused the explosion.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” regional commander Commander Papagno told news outlets.

A propane tank had been activated, and the explosion directly hit our members,” he explained.

Molotov cocktails were also found at the property, the minister confirmed.

Injuries and Destruction

Those injured by the incident consisted of 11 other members of the military police as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a fire services member.

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

The official was convinced the blast had taken place on a level above the access point and told reporters it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Shortly before the incident, he said members had “heard a whistle, likely the gas cylinders being turned on”.

Local Response

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors told local news, adding that the family members had previously threatened to “detonate the property” rather than be evicted.

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

Minister of Defence Minister Crosetto joined other elected representatives in paying tribute to the trio of personnel who had been killed in the service of their country.