An explosion at a farmhouse in northern Italy during a police raid killed three Carabinieri officers and injured 12 others, Italy's fire service said on X on Tuesday (October 14).

The explosion occurred in Castel d'Azzano, near the city of Verona, overnight and caused the farmhouse to collapse, firefighters said. A woman was also injured and seven firefighters were taken to hospital for checks, they added.

Italian media reported that the officers were trying to carry out an eviction order and that the initial indications were that gas canisters had exploded in the building. The noise from the blast could be heard as far as five kilometres (3.1 miles) away.

Corriere della Sera reported that three siblings lived in the building and had been resisting attempts to evict them for several years.

"With deep sorrow I have learnt of the tragic passing of three Carabinieri. My condolences, and those of the government, go to the families of the victims," Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CASTEL D'AZZANO, ITALY (OCTOBER 14, 2025) (AGTW - No Use Italy)

1. FIREFIGHTERS AND CARABINIERI ARRIVING AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT

2. FIREFIGHTER ON THE ROOF OF DESTROYED HOUSE

3. CARABINIERI STANDING NEAR SITE OF EXPLOSION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CHIEF ATTORNEY OF VERONA, RAFFAELE TITO, SAYING:

"The Carabinieri, police and firefighters have planned their operation very carefully. Now let's see, I think someone has the responsibility for what happened. The reaction was so violent that it is hard to say. I will say so. We have conducted a search for Molotov cocktails to find the gas cylinders that have been used in the past."

5. FIREFIGHTER ON DESTROYED ROOF

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) NEIGHBOUR, MARCELLO FUSINI, SAYING:

"I didn't think they would go that far. They made threats, but I don't really think they truly intended to carry them out. I am sorry that the Carabinieri have died. It happened, but I don't think they really wanted to kill them. They wanted to make a statement. After that, the situation got out of hand."

7. FIREFIGHTERS AND CARABINIER AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT

8. MAN HANDLING ELECTRIC CABLES

9. VARIOUS OF CARABINIERI, LOCAL POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS AT SCENE