Seven individuals are currently standing trial in Dresden, eastern Germany, accused of membership or support for a militant criminal left-wing extremist organization known as Antifa Ost, or the "hammer gang." This group, reportedly founded in late 2017 or early 2018, is alleged by German prosecutors to have orchestrated violent assaults against individuals perceived as part of the right-wing scene. These attacks are said to have occurred both within Germany and in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
The defendants – six men and one woman, identified only by their first names and initial (Henry A, Tobias E, Johann G, Thomas J, Melissa K, Paul M, and Julian W) due to German privacy regulations – face serious charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and property damage. Prosecutors assert that these attacks were meticulously planned over several years, involving advance surveillance of targets. Victims, in multiple instances, suffered severe injuries from blows inflicted with hammers and batons.
Key Accused Figures and Alleged Attacks
Johann G is singled out as a central figure, accused of masterminding attacks and recruiting members. Another defendant, Paul M, is alleged to have organized combat training for the group. One particularly brutal incident cited by prosecutors took place in January 2019 at Germany's Dessau-Rosslau train station. Johann G, Tobias E, and others are accused of ambushing four individuals returning from a rally in Magdeburg, striking them with heavy tools like a hammer and an iron bar, and continuing life-threatening blows and kicks even after they were incapacitated.
Further allegations involve Johann G and Paul M's participation in attacks in Budapest in February 2023. These assaults reportedly targeted right-wing extremists gathered for a "Day of Honour" commemorating a World War Two breakout attempt. Prosecutors claim the defendants used batons, pepper spray, and a hammer, with one victim enduring at least 15 blows, primarily to the head.
International Response: US Terror Designation
Earlier this month, the United States officially designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization, a move that parallels President Trump's broader initiative against extreme-left activists. This designation has significant implications, including making members ineligible for US entry, freezing their assets within the US financial system, and criminalizing any material support provided to the group.
German Political Reaction
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party welcomed the US decision, with Stephan Brandner advocating for the German government to follow suit and ban the group. "Antifa is a terrorist organisation, and it would be easy for the German state to take action against it. It's just that those in power don't want to," Brandner stated. "The US government is showing the way forward; something that is long overdue in Germany. All forms of extremism must be combated, and all terrorist organisations must be fought and banned." The German foreign ministry acknowledged the US designation.