A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network began their trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “the hammer group”.
Global terror listing and legal charges
Earlier this month, the US government classified the organization as a terrorist group together with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.
German prosecutors state the network was behind targeting sites in the country and Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a meeting point for rightwing activists.
Certain individuals are said to have using hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several severely injured.
Trial details and cross-border allegations
Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. Two defendants, identified as Johann G. and Paul M., are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, coinciding with an annual event called the “day of honour” that draws rightwing extremists from throughout the continent.
Separately, a different German individual, Maja T, is currently on 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 long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigration youth groups, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G as a high-ranking member within the organization, tasked with planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.
Together with Paul M, he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where leftwing extremists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated tools, irritant sprays, disguises and communication devices.
Prior legal cases and global responses
A different activist previously active with the group, Lina E., became a symbolic figure within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for attacks on presumed far-right targets.
America's terrorist listing makes group members ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they could possess within the American economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.
The German right-wing AfD party welcomed the American move and called on the government in Berlin to take similar action. However, the German foreign ministry merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.
“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
