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Seven individuals accused of being the German far-left militant group the Antifa Ost network began their trial on Tuesday, accused for violent actions against far-right activists that resulted in the nickname “Hammer Gang”.

International terrorist designation and legal charges

Recently, the US government classified the organization as a terrorist organization along with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist groups.

Authorities in Germany claim the network was behind attacks on locations in Germany and Hungary between 2018 and 2023. Among the incidents is the repeated targeting of a restaurant owner in central Thuringia, whose establishment was known as a gathering spot for far-right supporters.

Certain individuals are said to have employing hammers against presumed rightwing extremists, causing several with serious injuries.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

Court proceedings involving six men and one woman is expected to run until mid-2026 in the eastern city of Dresden. A pair of suspects, named as Johann G and Paul M, are additionally accused for violent incidents in Budapest during February 2023, around an yearly gathering called the “day of honour” that draws rightwing extremists from throughout the continent.

In a related case, another German activist, Maja T, is currently on trial in Hungary for four counts of attempted violent acts against neo-Nazis in the lead-up to the identical event in that year.

Regional context and organizational structure

The former East Germany has historically served as a breeding ground for both far-right and anti-immigrant youth groups, as well as the frequently radical anti-fascist networks that oppose them.

Prosecutors describe Johann G as a high-ranking member within the organization, tasked with organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Alongside Paul M., he is accused of organizing instruction courses where leftwing extremists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. At depots overseen by Paul M, the group reportedly stockpiled hammers, pepper spray, disguises and communication devices.

Previous convictions and global responses

A different activist previously active with the group, Lina E, became a symbolic figure within some far-left activist circles following her 2023 guilty verdict for attacks on suspected right-wing individuals.

America's terrorist listing makes group members barred from entering the United States, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the world’s largest economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right AfD party applauded the American move and urged the government in Berlin to take similar action. However, the country's diplomatic office simply stated it had “taken note” of the American classification.

“The threat 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