A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the left-wing extremist organization the Antifa Ost network began their trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
Global terror listing and prosecution case
Recently, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.
German prosecutors claim the group was responsible for targeting locations in the country and Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in central Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.
Certain individuals are allegedly accused of using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some severely injured.
Trial details and cross-border allegations
The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run until July 2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, also face charges for violent incidents in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, coinciding with an annual event called the “day of honour” that attracts rightwing extremists from across Europe.
In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted violent acts against neo-Nazis prior to the identical event in that year.
Historical background and group hierarchy
Eastern Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigrant youth groups, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a high-ranking member within Antifa Ost, responsible for planning attacks and bringing in new members.
Together with Paul M., he is accused of organizing training sessions where leftwing extremists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. In storage facilities overseen by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled hammers, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.
Prior legal cases and international reactions
Another militant previously active with the group, Lina E., became a symbolic figure within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.
The US designation renders organization affiliates ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal providing material support to them.
The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to follow suit. However, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.
“The threat posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either received convictions or remain detained.”
Interior ministry spokesperson
