Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition calling on Donald Trump to "formally recognise" anti-fascists as terrorists.

The petition on the White House website urges the federal government to declare Antifa, a terror group, out of "principle, integrity, morality and safety".

Antifa, shorthand for antifascist organisations, refers to a loose coalition of decentralised, grassroots groups opposed to the many guises of fascism.

"Terrorism is defined as 'the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims'," the petition reads. "This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups, as terrorist organisations. Antifa has earned this title due to its violent actions in multiple cities and their influence in the killings of multiple police officers throughout the US.

"It is time for the pentagon to be consistent in its actions – and just as they rightfully declared ISIS a terror group, they must declare AntiFa a terror group."

It comes after the US President accused the "alt-left" of inciting violence during a tense standoff in the Virginian city of Charlottesville, between white supremacist groups and counter-protesters.

Mr Trump came under heavy criticism after he claimed there had been violence "on both sides" in the wake of the rally, which left one person dead after a white supremacist allegedly ploughed his car into a group of counter-protesters.

The far-right has repeatedly accused Antifa of provoking the violence seen in Virginia.

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.

The belief of the majority of anti-fascist activists is centred around denouncing far-right views, but anti-capitalist and anti-establishment factions are also known to verge towards anarchy.

One image widely shared by far right circles that appeared to prove this last point showed an anti-fascist protester beating a police officer.

Many had shared the photo as evidence the far left had at least contributed to the Charlottesville violence.

But the image, which shows a man in an “Antifascist Action” jacket lashing out at an officer on the ground, was later found to be fake.

The photo was found to be from a 2009 demonstration in Athens, Greece, and in the original, there is no anti-fascist logo on the man’s jacket.