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A group of seven people accused of being the left-wing extremist organization Antifa Ost went on trial on this week, accused for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the moniker “the hammer group”.

Global terror listing and legal charges

Earlier this month, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization together with several other European far-left and anarchist groups.

German prosecutors state 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 venue was known as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.

Some suspects are said to have employing hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several with serious injuries.

Trial details and international connections

The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M., are additionally accused for attacks in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, coinciding with an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.

Separately, another German activist, Maja T, is facing trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted violent acts against far-right activists prior to the identical event in 2023.

Historical background and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has long been a breeding ground for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.

Authorities characterize Johann G as a high-ranking member within the organization, responsible for organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Together with Paul M, he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the network allegedly accumulated hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and communication devices.

Prior legal cases and international reactions

A different activist 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.

The US designation makes group members barred from entering the United States, blocks financial holdings they may have within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal offering assistance to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the American move and urged the German administration to take similar action. In contrast, the German foreign ministry merely commented it had “taken note” of the US designation.

“The danger posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either already been convicted or are in custody.”

Interior ministry spokesperson