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A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost began their trial on this week, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

International terror listing and prosecution case

Recently, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization along with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.

Authorities in Germany claim the network was responsible for targeting locations in the country and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a business proprietor in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.

Some suspects are allegedly accused of using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some severely injured.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in Budapest during February 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honor” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.

Separately, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted violent acts against neo-Nazis prior to the same rally in 2023.

Historical background and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has long been a hotbed for both far-right and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the often militant antifascist groups that counter them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. In storage facilities overseen by the suspect, the network reportedly stockpiled tools, pepper spray, concealment items and mobile phones.

Previous convictions and international reactions

Another militant previously active with the group, Lina E, became a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her conviction in 2023 for attacks on suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the United States, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right AfD party applauded the US decision and urged the government in Berlin to take similar action. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “taken note” of the US designation.

“The threat posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and most aggressive participants have already been convicted or are in custody.”

Government representative