A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network began their trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting far-right activists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
Global terror listing and prosecution case
Earlier this month, the United States classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.
German prosecutors claim the network was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Included in the allegations is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose venue was known as a meeting point for far-right supporters.
Some suspects are said to have using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some severely injured.
Trial details and international connections
Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the eastern city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T., is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for multiple charges of attempted violent acts against far-right activists in the lead-up to the same rally in 2023.
Historical background and organizational structure
The former East Germany has long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the often militant antifascist groups that oppose them.
Authorities characterize Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.
Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing training sessions where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. At depots managed by the suspect, the network allegedly accumulated hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and communication devices.
Prior legal cases and global responses
Another militant previously active with the organization, Lina E., emerged as a symbolic figure within some far-left activist circles following her conviction in 2023 for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.
The US designation renders organization affiliates barred from entering the United States, freezes any assets they may have within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.
Germany's far-right AfD party welcomed the US decision and called on the government in Berlin to follow suit. However, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.
“The danger from the organization has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and most aggressive participants have either received convictions or are in custody.”
Interior ministry representative
