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A trio of officers lost their lives and at least 15 others were hurt in what appears to be premeditated blast caused by gas at a rural property in Italy's north.

How It Happened

The blast took place as police and firefighters went into the residence near Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio who were older adults.

The three officers killed served in the Carabinieri military police.

Investigation Developments

A man and a woman were arrested at the scene and one more individual who ran away following the explosion was located not long after. All three have been admitted to the hospital.

The explosion could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location revealed the property left as a mass of wreckage.

“This is a time for grieving,” stated Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who added that attempts had been made to displace the three siblings in the past.

Background and Motive

The head of the Veneto region, President Zaia, explained the farmhouse was facing an court order due to financial obligations accumulated by the property owners.

Negotiators had been dispatched to engage the siblings who had locked themselves into the property. When the Carabinieri arrived just after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), investigators think one of the residents caused the blast.

“As we went inside, we encountered a completely deranged action,” local police chief Commander Papagno told news outlets.

A propane tank had been ignited, and the explosion precisely impacted our members,” he said.

Molotov cocktails were also located at the residence, the interior minister said.

Casualties and Damage

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

As stated by the Verona prosecutor, the farmhouse was in a poor condition and had no electricity.

The official believed the blast had happened on a floor above the access point and told journalists it was a “deliberate and pre-planned murder”. Just prior to the blast, he said members had “detected a whistling noise, presumably the propane tanks being activated”.

Local Response

“We all knew the situation was dire,” local residents informed Italian media, noting that the three had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than vacate the property.

“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 men who had been killed in the performance of their duties.