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Seven individuals allegedly belonging to the left-wing extremist organization the Antifa Ost network went on trial on this week, accused for attacks targeting far-right activists that resulted in the nickname “the hammer group”.

Global terror listing and prosecution case

Recently, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist group along with several other European far-left and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany state 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 Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

Some suspects are said to have employing hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several severely injured.

Trial details and international connections

The trial involving seven defendants 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 violent incidents in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, around an annual event known as the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from throughout the continent.

In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted assault against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the same rally in that year.

Historical background and group hierarchy

Eastern Germany has historically served as a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the often militant antifascist groups that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G as a high-ranking member within the organization, responsible for planning attacks and bringing in new members.

Together with Paul M, he is alleged to have arranged instruction courses where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. In storage facilities managed by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated tools, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist formerly involved with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a symbolic figure within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on presumed far-right targets.

The US designation renders organization affiliates ineligible to enter the United States, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the American economy and criminalizes providing material support to them.

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

“The threat from the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and most aggressive participants have either received convictions or remain detained.”

Government spokesperson