🔗 Share this article

Three members of law enforcement were killed and at least 15 additional individuals were hurt in a seemingly deliberate detonation from gas at a country home in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The detonation was triggered as law enforcement and fire personnel entered the residence near Verona to execute an removal notice for a brother and sister trio who were older adults.

All three officers killed belonged to the Italian military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

One male and one female were taken into custody at the location and one more individual who fled after the blast was found shortly later. The trio have been admitted to the hospital.

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

“This is a time for grieving,” commented Interior Minister the Interior Minister, who noted that efforts had been made to displace the brother and sister trio in the previous occasions.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto area, President Zaia, said the property was under an court order due to financial obligations incurred by the siblings.

Negotiators had been dispatched to speak to the siblings who had secured themselves into the house. When the officers came soon after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators believe one of the siblings caused the blast.

“When we entered the property, we faced an utterly insane act,” local police chief Claudio Papagno informed the media.

A propane tank had been activated, and the blast precisely impacted our members,” he explained.

Molotov cocktails were also located at the property, the minister said.

Impact Assessment

The wounded by the incident included eleven more officers of the military police as well as three officers of Italy's state police and a firefighter.

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

The prosecutor believed the explosion had happened on a level above the entrance and informed the press it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the blast, he revealed members had “noticed a hissing sound, probably the gas cylinders being activated”.

Community Reaction

“Everyone was aware the circumstances were severe,” neighbors informed reporters, noting that the family members had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

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

Defence Minister the Defence Minister stood alongside other political leaders in paying tribute to the three men who had died in the service of their country.