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A group of seven people accused of being the left-wing extremist organization Antifa Ost went on trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

International terror listing and prosecution case

Earlier this month, the US government designated the organization as a terrorist organization along with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany state the group was responsible for attacks on locations in Germany and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

Certain individuals are allegedly accused of using hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several with serious injuries.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

The trial involving six men and one woman is expected to run until July 2026 in the city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for attacks in Budapest during early 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honor” that attracts far-right participants from throughout the continent.

In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is currently on trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted assault against neo-Nazis prior to the same rally in that year.

Regional context and group hierarchy

The former East Germany has historically served as a hotbed 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 high-ranking member within Antifa Ost, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing training sessions where radical left activists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. In storage facilities managed by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled hammers, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.

Prior legal cases and global responses

Another militant formerly involved with the organization, Lina E, emerged as a symbolic figure within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting presumed far-right targets.

America's terrorist listing renders organization affiliates ineligible to enter the United States, freezes any assets they could possess within the American economy and makes it illegal offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right AfD party welcomed the US decision and called on the government in Berlin to follow suit. In contrast, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The danger posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have already been convicted or are in custody.”

Interior ministry representative