A devastating explosion early Tuesday at a farmhouse in northern Italy tragically killed three military police officers and left at least 13 other officers injured, as confirmed by Italy’s defense minister.
The catastrophic blast occurred as officers from multiple agencies and firefighters were entering the property in Castel d’Azzano, a town in the northern province of Verona. They were there to enforce a court-ordered eviction. The force of the explosion caused the two-story building to completely collapse, trapping several officers inside, according to a spokesman for the Carabinieri, Italy’s military police.
Luca Zaia, the governor of Veneto, the region encompassing Castel d’Azzano, described the incident as a “genuine tragedy,” noting that the explosion was heard up to three miles away.
Antonello Panuccio, the deputy mayor of Castel d’Azzano, informed Rai News, Italy’s national broadcaster, that three siblings residing at the farmhouse had repeatedly refused to comply with the eviction order. The explosion was triggered shortly after 3 a.m. as police and firefighters made their entry.
Following the incident, a brother and sister, both in their 60s, were apprehended at the scene. A third sibling was later arrested in a nearby field. Italy’s interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, told Rai News that the two siblings found at the home also sustained injuries in the blast.
Verona’s chief prosecutor, Raffaele Tito, expressed his shock from the explosion site, labeling it an “incredible tragedy” and “absurd behavior.” He stated that “The Carabinieri and police tried to act with maximum safety and with all the necessary equipment. But the outcome was unexpected and very painful,” as reported by the Italian news agency ANSA.
This remains a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.