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A group of seven people accused of being the left-wing extremist organization Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting far-right activists that earned them the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

Global terror listing and legal charges

Recently, the United States designated the organization as a terrorist organization together with multiple additional European far-left and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors claim the network was behind attacks on sites in Germany and Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a business proprietor in Thuringia, whose venue was known as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

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

Court proceedings and international connections

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is expected to run until July 2026 in the city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, identified as Johann G. and Paul M., also face charges for violent incidents in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, coinciding with an annual event called the “day of honour” that attracts far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T., is facing 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 group hierarchy

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

Prosecutors describe Johann G. as a high-ranking member within the organization, tasked with planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing instruction courses where leftwing extremists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots managed by the suspect, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, disguises and mobile phones.

Prior legal cases and global responses

Another militant formerly involved with the group, Lina E, became a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on presumed far-right targets.

America's terrorist listing renders organization affiliates barred from entering the United States, blocks financial holdings they may have 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 take similar action. However, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “taken note” of the US designation.

“The threat posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and particularly violent members have either received convictions or remain detained.”

Interior ministry spokesperson