A group of seven people accused of being the left-wing extremist organization Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
Global terrorist designation and prosecution case
Earlier this month, the United States classified the organization as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist groups.
Authorities in Germany claim the group was responsible for attacks on sites in Germany and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.
Certain individuals are allegedly accused of using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, causing several with serious injuries.
Court proceedings and international connections
The trial involving seven defendants is expected to run until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for attacks in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering known as the “day of honor” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T., is currently on trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted violent acts against far-right activists in the lead-up to the same rally in 2023.
Historical background and group hierarchy
Eastern Germany has long been a hotbed for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the often militant antifascist groups that counter them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a high-ranking member within Antifa Ost, tasked with planning attacks and bringing in new members.
Together with Paul M, he is accused of organizing instruction courses where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities managed by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled tools, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.
Previous convictions and global responses
Another militant previously active with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for attacks on suspected right-wing individuals.
America's terrorist listing makes group members ineligible to enter the US, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and called on the government in Berlin to follow suit. However, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.
“The threat posed by the organization has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have either already been convicted or remain detained.”
Government representative
