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Today in History: Ngô Dình Nhu's parcel bomb misses Cambodian PM

8/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On 31 August, South Vietnam’s adviser Ngô Dình Nhu mailed a letter bomb to Cambodia’s prime minister Norodom Sihanouk. The device detonated without killing Sihanouk, exposing Nhu’s covert attempt to eliminate the Cambodian leader. The failed attack highlighted the regime’s reliance on clandestine violence amid regional Cold-War tensions.

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Story summary

On 31 August, South Vietnam’s adviser Ngô Dình Nhu mailed a letter bomb to Cambodia’s prime minister Norodom Sihanouk. The device detonated without killing Sihanouk, exposing Nhu’s covert attempt to eliminate the Cambodian leader. The failed attack highlighted the regime’s reliance on clandestine violence amid regional Cold-War tensions.