Norwegians and people all around the world were horrified when Norway was hit by multiple, deadly terrorist attacks on Friday. A radical Muslim group quickly claimed responsibility for the slaughter, The New York Times reported.

According to early reports, at least seven people died when a powerful bomb heavily damaged buildings in Norway's capital, Oslo. One of the buildings houses the offices of Norway's prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, though he was not harmed. Just as appalling, at least nine people died at a youth camp on a Norwegian island when a gunman opened fire.

A man has been detained in connection with the attacks, police said.

The radical group that claimed it had committed the attacks said they were in response to Norway's having troops in Afghanistan and to insults against the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.

This latest violence painfully reminds us of the cowardice and mindless cruelty of terrorism, which is a threat to all nations.

What did the attacker or attackers hope to gain by slaughtering innocent people at a youth camp and in office buildings?

In the decade since the 9/11 attacks on our own country, we have to some degree gotten complacent about terrorism. We do so at our peril.