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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 Tuesday, facing charges for attacks targeting rightwing extremists that resulted in the nickname “the hammer group”.

Global terrorist designation and prosecution case

Recently, the US government classified Antifa Ost as a terrorist group along with several other European far-left and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany claim the network was responsible for targeting sites 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 far-right supporters.

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 six men and one woman is expected to run until July 2026 in the city of Dresden. Two defendants, identified as Johann G. and Paul M., also face charges for attacks in Budapest during early 2023, around an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that draws far-right participants from across Europe.

In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted violent acts against far-right activists in the lead-up to the identical event in that year.

Regional context and group hierarchy

Eastern Germany has historically served as a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigration youth organizations, as well as the frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.

Authorities characterize Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, tasked with planning attacks and recruiting accomplices.

Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists practised combat techniques and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group allegedly accumulated hammers, irritant sprays, concealment items and communication devices.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist formerly involved with the organization, Lina E., became a cause celebre within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation renders organization affiliates barred from entering 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 government in Berlin to take similar action. However, the German foreign ministry merely commented it had “acknowledged” of the American classification.

“The threat from the [Antifa Ost] group has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have either already been convicted or remain detained.”

Interior ministry representative