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Seven individuals allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost began their trial on Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that earned them the moniker “Hammer Gang”.

International terrorist designation and legal charges

Earlier this month, the US government designated the organization as a terrorist organization along with multiple additional left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.

German prosecutors claim the network was responsible for targeting locations in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Among the incidents is the multiple attacks of a restaurant owner in Thuringia, whose venue reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.

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

Trial details and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the city of Dresden, Germany. Two defendants, named as Johann G and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, around an annual event known as the “day of honor” that draws rightwing extremists from across Europe.

In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T, is facing trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted violent acts against far-right activists prior to the identical event in 2023.

Regional context and organizational structure

Eastern Germany has long been a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigration youth groups, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that oppose them.

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

Alongside Paul M, he is alleged to have arranged training sessions where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the network reportedly stockpiled tools, pepper spray, concealment items and mobile phones.

Previous convictions and global responses

A different activist formerly involved with the organization, Lina E., emerged as 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 US, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right AfD party welcomed the American move and urged the government in Berlin to take similar action. However, the German foreign ministry simply stated it had “acknowledged” of the US designation.

“The danger from the organization has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and particularly violent members have either already been convicted or are in custody.”

Interior ministry representative