A group of seven people allegedly belonging to the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network went on trial on Tuesday, accused for attacks targeting far-right activists that resulted in the nickname “the hammer group”.
International terror listing and prosecution case
Earlier this month, the US government designated the organization as a terrorist organization together with several other European far-left and anarchist groups.
German prosecutors claim the group was responsible for attacks on sites in the country and neighboring Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose venue was known as a meeting point for far-right supporters.
Some suspects are said to have employing hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, leaving some severely injured.
Trial details and international connections
Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until mid-2026 in the city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for violent incidents in the Hungarian capital during early 2023, around an annual event called the “day of honour” that draws rightwing extremists from across Europe.
In a related case, a different German individual, Maja T., is currently on trial in Hungary for multiple charges of attempted assault against far-right activists in the lead-up to the same rally in that year.
Regional context and organizational structure
Eastern Germany has long been a hotbed for both right-wing extremist and anti-immigration youth groups, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that counter them.
Prosecutors describe Johann G as a senior figure within Antifa Ost, tasked with organizing violent acts and recruiting accomplices.
Together with Paul M., he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists practised combat techniques and simulated violent actions. At depots overseen by Paul M, the network allegedly accumulated hammers, pepper spray, concealment items and communication devices.
Previous convictions and global responses
Another militant 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.
The US designation makes group members ineligible to enter the United States, freezes any assets they may have within the American economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.
The German right-wing Alternative for Germany welcomed the US decision and called on the government in Berlin to take similar action. However, the country's diplomatic office merely commented it had “taken note” of the American classification.
“The danger posed by the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have received convictions or are in custody.”
Interior ministry spokesperson