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A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost went on trial on this week, accused for attacks targeting far-right activists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

Global terrorist designation and prosecution case

Recently, the US government classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist group along with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors claim the group was responsible for attacks on sites in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in central Thuringia, whose venue was known as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

Some suspects are said to have using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some severely injured.

Court proceedings and international connections

The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M., are additionally accused for attacks in Budapest during early 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that draws rightwing extremists from throughout the continent.

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

Historical background and organizational structure

The former East Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that counter them.

Authorities characterize Johann G as a high-ranking member within the organization, responsible for organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged instruction courses where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and mobile phones.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist previously active with the group, Lina E., became a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.

America's terrorist listing makes group members barred from entering the US, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the American economy and makes it illegal providing material support to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the US decision and urged the German administration to follow suit. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The threat posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have already been convicted or remain detained.”

Government spokesperson