Maurizio Degl’Innocenti / EPA
The case took place on a farm on the outskirts of Verona, which the police were “evicting”. As they entered the house, which was occupied by three farming and cattle raising brothers, there was an explosion, caused by a gas cylinder. It would have been a trap devised by the occupants.
Three Italian police officers died and several were injured during an eviction in the province of Verona (northern), when an explosion occurred on the farm they were trying to vacate, apparently caused by the occupants.
The commander of the carabinieri (corps of gendarmes) from the province of Verona explained that, as they entered the farmhouse that was occupied by three farming and cattle-raising brothers, there was an explosion, caused by a gas cylinder, which left three dead and 15 injured, including law enforcement officers and firefighters.
The same person in charge indicated that it was “a building that had been abandoned for several months, whose occupants had barricaded themselves inside” and pointed out that everything points to it being “an intentional act committed during the entry of the military”, since they had already threatened to blow up the farm in a previous eviction attempt.
Os three brothers (two men and a woman in their 60s) were detainedone of whom tried to escape, authorities announced.
The eviction action, which took place last night in Castel d’Azzanowas planned over several days and mobilized special forces and anti-terrorist operations agents, as well as firefighters, precisely in response to the threat.
In searches carried out after the explosion, they found five gas cylinders that had been placed in different places in the house, as well as several Molotov cocktails.
The Italian President, Sergio Mattarellaand the Prime Minister, Giorgia Melonihave already transmitted messages of condolence and tribute following the death of the three agents, Marco Piffari, Davide Bernardello and Valerio Dapra.
“In these dramatic circumstances, I express my solidarity with the Carabiniers Corps and my feelings of condolence to their families, together with the wish for a speedy recovery for the injured officers”, declared the head of state.
Meloni also sent messages of condolence to the families of the victims and said he was “following with participation and sadness the development of this dramatic event, which reminds us once again of the value and daily sacrifice of those who serve the State and its citizens“.
