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A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the left-wing extremist organization the Antifa Ost network went on trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting far-right activists that resulted in the moniker “Hammer Gang”.

Global terrorist designation and legal charges

Recently, the United States classified the organization as a terrorist group along with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany state the network was responsible for 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 reportedly served as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

Some suspects are allegedly accused of using hammers against suspected far-right members, leaving some severely injured.

Trial details and international connections

The trial involving seven defendants is expected to run until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, identified as Johann G and Paul M, also face charges for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honour” that attracts 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 2023.

Historical background and group hierarchy

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

Authorities characterize Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where radical left activists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

Another militant formerly involved with the organization, Lina E., became a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the United States, freezes any assets they could possess within the American economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

The German right-wing 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 US designation.

“The threat posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have received convictions or are in custody.”

Interior ministry representative