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A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the left-wing extremist organization Antifa Ost went on trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “the hammer group”.

Global terrorist designation and legal charges

Recently, the United States designated the organization as a terrorist organization along with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.

German prosecutors claim the network was behind attacks on sites in Germany and neighboring Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Included in the allegations is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

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

Court proceedings and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, coinciding with an annual event known as the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T., is facing trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted assault against neo-Nazis prior to the identical event in 2023.

Historical background and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth groups, as well as the often militant anti-fascist networks that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M, he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. In storage facilities managed by Paul M, the network allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, concealment items and mobile phones.

Prior legal cases and international reactions

A different activist formerly involved with the group, Lina E., emerged as a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her conviction in 2023 for targeting presumed far-right targets.

The US designation renders organization affiliates barred from entering the United States, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal providing material support to them.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and urged the German administration to take similar action. In contrast, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “taken note” of the American classification.

“The danger from the organization has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have received convictions or are in custody.”

Government representative