A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network went on trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
Global terror listing and legal charges
Earlier this month, the US government classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist group together with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.
Authorities in Germany state the network was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Included in the allegations is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose venue reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.
Some suspects are allegedly accused of using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, causing several severely injured.
Court proceedings and cross-border allegations
The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run 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 Budapest during early 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honor” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.
Separately, another German activist, Maja T, is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system 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
The former East Germany has long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the often militant antifascist groups that counter them.
Authorities characterize Johann G as a high-ranking member within the organization, responsible for organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.
Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by the suspect, the network allegedly accumulated hammers, irritant sprays, disguises 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 conviction in 2023 for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.
The US designation renders organization affiliates barred from entering the US, blocks financial holdings they may have within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes 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. However, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.
“The danger posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either received convictions or are in custody.”
Government spokesperson
