A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network went on trial on this week, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
Global terror listing and prosecution case
Earlier this month, the US government classified the organization as a terrorist group along with several other European far-left and anarchist networks.
Authorities in Germany claim the group was behind targeting sites in the country and 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.
Some suspects are said to have using hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several 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 violent incidents in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that attracts rightwing extremists from across Europe.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T., is currently on trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted assault against far-right activists prior to the identical event in that year.
Historical background and organizational structure
The former East Germany has long been a breeding ground for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, responsible for planning attacks and bringing in new members.
Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. At depots managed by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, disguises and mobile phones.
Previous convictions and global responses
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 barred from entering the US, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes providing material support to them.
Germany's far-right AfD party welcomed the American move and called on the German administration to take similar action. However, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “taken note” of the American classification.
“The threat from the [Antifa Ost] group has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either already been convicted or remain detained.”
Government spokesperson
