MacDonald House bombing

The MacDonald House bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred in Singapore on 10 March 1965 at 15:07 local time. A bomb that was planted in the MacDonald House at Orchard Road exploded, instantly killing two and injuring 33 others. Part of the building was also damaged by the bomb. A third victim of the bombing died two days later after being in a coma. As it was planted by Indonesian marines Harun bin Said and Osman bin Haji Muhammad Ali, the bombing affected bilateral relationships between Indonesia and Singapore.

The nitroglycerin bomb was planted as part of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation (Konfrontasi), a conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia over Indonesia's opposition to the creation of Malaysia. At the time, Singapore was still an autonomous state within Malaysia. They were originally instructed to bomb a power station but went to the MacDonald House instead. At the time, the building was used by the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC), the Australian High Commission and the Japanese Consulate. Both marines subsequently attempted to flee Singapore but were apprehended by the Police Coast Guard. They were charged with the murders of three victims, although the bombing itself was not mentioned in the charges. They were put to trial in the High Court and after a 13-day trial, were found guilty for their charges of murder and sentenced to death. Despite multiple appeals, including a clemency plea from President of Indonesia Suharto, they were hanged on 17 October 1968, causing about 300 students to raid the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta.

Following the bombing, security measures for buildings increased, particularly with packages. The bombing strained bilateral relationships between Indonesia and Singapore until 1973, when Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew went to Indonesia and scattered flowers over the marines' graves, largely restoring bilateral relationships between the two countries. Singapore–Indonesia bilateral relationships were affected again in 2014 following the naming of the KRI Usman Harun, which was named after Harun and Osman. Indonesia officially apologised for the naming but clarified that the naming is irreversible. A memorial at Dhoby Ghaut Green dedicated to the victims of the Konfrontasi was opened in 2015.