A tragic incident in northern Italy has resulted in the deaths of three police officers, identified as members of the Carabinieri military police. The officers were killed and at least 15 other individuals were injured when a powerful explosion ripped through a farmhouse near Verona. Officials believe the blast was intentionally caused by the occupants of the house – a sister and her two brothers – as law enforcement arrived to enforce an eviction order.
The explosion, which was reportedly felt several miles away, reduced the farmhouse to rubble. Luca Zaia, the governor of the Veneto region, stated that the eviction was due to outstanding debts owed by the property’s owners. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that previous attempts to evict the siblings had been met with resistance, and that the situation was known to be dire. It is thought that one of the siblings ignited gas canisters upon the arrival of the officers in the early hours of the morning.
Provincial police commander Claudio Papagno described the event as an “act of absolute madness,” with the explosion directly impacting the officers. Authorities also discovered petrol bombs at the property. Among the injured were 11 other Carabinieri officers, three state police officers, and a firefighter.
The Verona prosecutor, Raffaele Tito, indicated that the farmhouse was in a dilapidated state with no electricity. He characterized the blast as a “premeditated and voluntary homicide,” noting that officers heard a “whistle” believed to be the sound of gas cylinders being opened just before the explosion. Neighbours reported that the siblings had previously threatened to “blow themselves up” rather than vacate the property. The Interior Minister expressed deep sorrow over the “terrible, very painful and dramatic toll,” and the Defence Minister offered condolences to the families of the officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.