A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network went on trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting far-right activists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.
Global terror listing and prosecution case
Earlier this month, the United States classified the organization as a terrorist group together with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.
Authorities in Germany state the network was responsible for attacks on locations in the country and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a gathering spot for rightwing activists.
Some suspects are said to have using hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some severely injured.
Court proceedings and international connections
Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is expected to run until mid-2026 in the city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, identified as Johann G and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during February 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from throughout the continent.
Separately, a different German individual, Maja T, is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system for multiple charges of attempted assault against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the same rally in 2023.
Historical background and group hierarchy
The former East Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that counter them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, responsible for planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.
Alongside Paul M., he is alleged to have arranged instruction courses where radical left activists practised combat techniques and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by the suspect, the network reportedly stockpiled hammers, irritant sprays, disguises and communication devices.
Previous convictions and international reactions
Another militant previously active with the organization, Lina E., emerged as a symbolic figure within certain radical left communities following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.
America's terrorist listing makes group members ineligible to enter the United States, blocks financial holdings they may have within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes providing material support to them.
The German right-wing AfD party welcomed the US decision and called on the German administration to follow suit. However, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.
“The danger posed by the organization has recently decreased significantly. Key leaders and particularly violent members have already been convicted or are in custody.”
Interior ministry representative
