PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull is being urged to declare the organisation whose members glitter-bombed conservative commentator Andrew Bolt a “terrorist group”.

The columnist, who is employed by News Corp which also owns news.com.au, was last week approached by a number of men in a Melbourne street who appeared to violently attack the 57-year-old.

In video of the incident shared online, the men appeared to repeatedly try to punch Bolt, who fought back before being glitter-bombed by his attackers and was left covered in glitter and glue.

Antifa Australia, a leftist political protest group that stands for anti-fascism, identified the men involved as its supporters in a Facebook post where they called for Bolt to be imprisoned over the scuffle.

Reaction to the footage has ranged from congratulating the divisive commentator’s attackers, to calling for them to be charged.

One Melbourne man has taken his disgust at the attack a step further, pleading with the federal government to declare the group behind the incident a terrorist organisation.

Avi Yemini, an outspoken gym owner and safety campaigner from Melbourne, sparked the idea and has collected more than 5000 signatures backing an online petition he plans to present to the PM.

He’s calling for Antifa to be reclassified by the government.

“Following the horrific violent assault on conservative commentator, Andrew Bolt. I’m calling on our government to list Antifa as a terrorist organisation and treat its members accordingly,” he wrote on the change.org petition.

Mr Yemini described Antifa as “the far-left organisation that have been reeking (sic) havoc across Australia”, and says peaceful protests organised by nationalists have “been greeted with violence from this organisation”.

In his case to classify Antifa as a “terrorist organisation”, Mr Yemini argues the group fits in with the legislative definition of such a group.

“Antifa does intimidate elements of the public to advance a political cause — the nationalist movement,” he argues. “It has damaged property. It has caused serious danger to a person.”

Melbourne Antifa responded to the petition in a statement sent to news.com.au.

“If defending the interests of the working class against the violent system of fascism means we are terrorists, then we will gladly stand alongside our historic comrades in Palestine who continue the fight against zionist apartheid, and other marginalised groups around the world. We wear the label with pride,” the group said.

Mr Turnbull has not commented to the petition.