An intelligence report released by the NYPD Wednesday says homegrown terrorists may pose a greater threat to U.S. safety than overseas terrorist groups like al-Qaida.

The study called it a "common misconception" to think our terror threats are located only overseas. It cited a number of recent terror plots across the globe where the suspects came from the targeted country.

The report pinpoints young Muslim men, typically under 35 years old, who have become disenfranchised with America. The report states these men have started gravitating toward jihad as a way to prove their religious devotion.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told New Yorkers that local police might be the best defense.

Kelly also said that understanding the trend of homegrown terrorists and learning what drives them is a necessary step in understanding counter-terrorism strategies.

The findings drew swift criticism from an Arab anti-discrimination group. The group accused the NYPD of stereotyping and of contradicting recent federal warnings that the chief terror threat remains foreign.

AP wires contributed to this report

Related information:Read the NYPD report