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A group of seven people accused of being the German far-left militant group Antifa Ost went on trial on Tuesday, facing charges for violent actions against rightwing extremists that earned them the moniker “the hammer group”.

International terror listing and legal charges

Earlier this month, the US government designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist group along with several other left-wing extremist and anarchist networks.

Authorities in Germany claim the network was behind attacks on sites in Germany and Hungary from 2018 through 2023. Included in the allegations is the repeated targeting of a business proprietor in Thuringia, whose establishment reportedly served as a meeting point for far-right supporters.

Certain individuals are said to have employing hammers against suspected far-right members, causing several with serious injuries.

Trial details and cross-border allegations

The trial involving six men and one woman is scheduled to continue until July 2026 in the city of Dresden, Germany. Two defendants, identified as Johann G and Paul M, also face charges for attacks in Budapest during early 2023, around an yearly gathering known as the “day of honor” that draws far-right participants from throughout the continent.

Separately, a different German individual, Maja T., is currently on trial in the Hungarian judicial system for four counts of attempted assault against neo-Nazis prior to the same rally in 2023.

Regional context 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 frequently radical antifascist groups that counter them.

Authorities characterize Johann G as a senior figure within the organization, tasked with organizing violent acts and bringing in new members.

Alongside Paul M, he is accused of organizing instruction courses where radical left activists trained in fighting methods and rehearsed attacks. In storage facilities overseen by the suspect, the network reportedly stockpiled tools, irritant sprays, concealment items and mobile phones.

Previous convictions and international reactions

A different activist previously active with the organization, Lina E., emerged as a symbolic figure within certain radical left communities following her conviction in 2023 for targeting suspected right-wing individuals.

The US designation renders organization affiliates barred from entering the United States, blocks financial holdings they could possess within the American economy and criminalizes offering assistance to them.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany 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 danger from the organization has substantially diminished lately. The ringleaders and most aggressive participants have received convictions or are in custody.”

Interior ministry spokesperson