Explosion Takes 3 Law Enforcement Officers While Executing Eviction Procedure in Italy

Three police officers were killed and more than a dozen others got wounded in a seemingly premeditated gas explosion at a country home in Italy's north.

Sequence of Events

The blast took place as police and firefighters went into the house in the vicinity of the city of Verona to execute an court-ordered eviction for a brother and sister trio aged in their 50s and 60s.

Each of the three deceased individuals were members of the Carabinieri military police.

Arrests and Aftermath

One male and one female were taken into custody at the site and another man who fled after the explosion was found soon after. All three have been admitted to medical facility.

The blast could be heard some 5km (3 miles) away and images from the location showed the property turned into a pile of rubble.

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

Property Situation

The president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, explained the property was under an court order due to financial obligations incurred by the three owners.

Negotiators had been assigned to talk with the family members who had locked themselves into the house. When the officers arrived shortly after 03:00 (01:00 GMT), authorities believe one of the siblings triggered the detonation.

“Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness,” regional commander the police commander informed the media.

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

Petrol bombs were also located at the site, the interior minister stated.

Casualties and Damage

The wounded by the explosion comprised eleven more officers of the police force as well as a trio of personnel of the state police and a fire services member.

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

The prosecutor thought the explosion had taken place on a floor above the doorway and informed the press it was a “premeditated and voluntary homicide”. Moments before the explosion, he mentioned officers had “detected a whistling noise, likely the gas cylinders being opened”.

Local Response

“All of us understood the scenario was critical,” neighbors told reporters, noting that the three had in the past stated to “cause an explosion” rather than be evicted.

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

The Defense Minister Minister Crosetto joined other government officials in commemorating the trio of personnel who had died in the line of duty.