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A group of seven people accused of being the left-wing extremist organization the Antifa Ost network went on trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting far-right activists that resulted in the moniker “the hammer group”.

Global terror listing and prosecution case

Earlier this month, the US government classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist group together with several other European far-left and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors state the network was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and neighboring Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a business proprietor in Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a meeting point for far-right supporters.

Some suspects are said to have employing hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some with serious injuries.

Trial details and international connections

The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. Two defendants, named as Johann G and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honour” that attracts rightwing extremists from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T., is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted violent acts against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the identical event in 2023.

Regional context and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has historically served as a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth groups, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.

Authorities characterize Johann G as a high-ranking member within Antifa Ost, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities managed by the suspect, the network reportedly stockpiled tools, irritant sprays, concealment items and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

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

America's terrorist listing makes group members barred from entering the United States, freezes any assets they may have within the American economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany welcomed the US decision and urged the government in Berlin to take similar action. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The threat posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have either received convictions or are in custody.”

Government representative