Chris Wray, the recently confirmed new director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said there were currently 1,000 ongoing investigations into domestic terror groups and a similar number of probes into groups driven by radical Islamist ideology.

“We take both of them very, very seriously,” he told senators on Capitol Hill. “Our focus is on violence and threats of violence against the people of this country. That’s our concern - it’s not ideology.”

It was the new FBI Director's first testimony since being confirmed (Getty)

The issue of the threat of white supremacist aggression has received fresh attention following neo-Nazi-led violence in the Virginia city of Charlottesville last month that left one young woman dead. Donald Trump found himself mired in controversy after he appeared slow to condemn the neo-Nazis and white supremacists behind the violence, and sought to instead blame “all sides”.

According to The Hill, Mr Wray told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee he considered the threat from both types of groups equally.

Miss Texas criticises Donald Trump for Charlottesville response in Miss America contest

Yet Democratic senator Claire McCaskill said the number of attacks carried out by white supremacists were “almost triple” those of those carried out by people who identified with groups such as Isis. Government data obtained by The Hill suggested the number of white supremacist attacks compared to those from radical Islamic groups was as many as two to one.

“I don’t think Americans understand the level of threat we have in this country from white supremacists,” said Ms McCaskill.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Mr Wray said there have been 176 arrests of domestic terror subjects in approximately the last year. He was unable to provide the legislators with the exact number of agents working on domestic terrorism investigations.

Democratic Senator Kamala Harris of California, demanded that the committee open an investigation into the dangers from white supremacists.

Mr Wray responded: “There are a significant number of agents who are working very hard on that subject, so I can assure you it’s a top, top priority.”