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A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network went on trial on this week, accused for violent actions against far-right activists that earned them 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 networks.

Authorities in Germany claim the group was behind attacks on sites in the country and 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 rightwing activists.

Certain individuals are said to have employing hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several severely injured.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving seven defendants is scheduled to continue until mid-2026 in the city of Dresden, Germany. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G. and Paul M., also face charges for violent incidents in Budapest during early 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honour” that attracts rightwing extremists from across Europe.

Separately, a different German individual, Maja T, is facing trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted assault against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the same rally in that year.

Historical background and organizational structure

The former East Germany has long been a hotbed for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth organizations, as well as the often militant antifascist groups that counter them.

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

Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing training sessions where leftwing extremists trained in fighting methods and simulated violent actions. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled tools, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist previously active with the group, Lina E., became a symbolic figure within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for attacks on presumed far-right targets.

America's terrorist listing renders organization affiliates ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they could possess within the world’s largest economy and makes it illegal providing material support to them.

The German right-wing Alternative for Germany applauded the US decision and urged the German administration to take similar action. However, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The threat posed by the organization has substantially diminished lately. Key leaders and most aggressive participants have already been convicted or are in custody.”

Interior ministry spokesperson