A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the left-wing extremist organization Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, facing charges for violent actions against far-right activists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
International terror listing and prosecution case
Earlier this month, the United States designated the organization as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist groups.
Authorities in Germany claim the group was behind targeting locations in the country and neighboring Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.
Some suspects are allegedly accused of employing hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several with serious injuries.
Trial details and cross-border allegations
The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering known as the “day of honour” that attracts rightwing extremists from throughout the continent.
In a related case, another German activist, Maja T., is facing trial in Hungary for multiple charges 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 right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that oppose them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, responsible for planning attacks and bringing in new members.
Together with Paul M, he is alleged to have arranged instruction courses where leftwing extremists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. At depots managed by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled tools, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.
Prior legal cases and global responses
Another militant previously active with the organization, Lina E, became a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on suspected right-wing individuals.
The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they may have within the American economy and makes it illegal providing material support to them.
The German right-wing Alternative for Germany applauded the American move and urged the government in Berlin to follow suit. In contrast, the German foreign ministry merely commented it had “taken note” of the American classification.
“The threat posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have either received convictions or remain detained.”
Interior ministry spokesperson
