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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 rightwing extremists that resulted in the moniker “the hammer group”.

International terror listing and prosecution case

Recently, the United States classified the organization as a terrorist organization together with several other European far-left and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors claim the network was behind targeting sites in the country and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose venue reportedly served as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

Certain individuals are said to have using hammers against suspected far-right members, leaving some severely injured.

Court proceedings and cross-border allegations

The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until mid-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 February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering called the “day of honor” that attracts rightwing extremists from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, 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

The former East Germany has historically served as a breeding ground for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a senior figure within the organization, tasked with planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.

Together with Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged instruction courses where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots managed by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and communication devices.

Prior legal cases and international reactions

Another militant previously active with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a cause celebre within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting presumed far-right targets.

The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the US, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes providing material support to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany applauded the US decision and called on the government in Berlin to follow suit. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.

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

Government representative