A final verdict has been given in Germany against “Lina E”, a violent left-wing extremist.
On March 19, the Federal Court of Justice in the city of Karlsruhe confirmed an earlier verdict against the so-called hammer gang and its most high-profile member, known for anonymity as Lina E.
Lina E is regarded by many as being the driving force behind what has been deemed violent, “commando-style” attacks on neo-Nazis as well the German police and, in one case, an uninvolved member of the public.
Among alleged assaults, the group was suspected of targeting men and women with hammers, clubs and pepper spray.
In mid-2023, Lina E was sentenced to five years and three months, while three other members received sentences of around three years.
Both the public prosecutor’s office and the defence stated they were dissatisfied with the verdict of the Dresden Higher Regional Court.
The public prosecutor’s office demanded a higher sentence, while Lina E’s lawyers claimed there was a lack of evidence to convict her. They also expressed doubts over the main witness.
“Beating and kicking people, potentially with far-reaching consequences, cannot be justified or excused by political, ideological, or religious motives of any kind,” presiding Judge Jürgen Schäfer said, adding that politics operated via words, not violence.
Following the initial conviction of 2023, radicals apparently belonging to the US-founded Antifa, a left-wing, decentralised political organisation that claimed to fight against racism and fascism, announced violent repercussions and threatened judges.
Soon after, riots broke out across Germany.
During the appeal proceedings, the verdict was only examined for legal errors, without new evidence or witness testimony.
Now, Karlsruhe has found no mistakes in the sentencing.
Lina E was absent for the reading of the verdict and is currently at large. Her arrest warrant was put on hold in 2023 under specific conditions.
Despite the sentence handed down, she was initially released after spending two and a half years in pre-trial detention, which she received due to concerns from prosecutors and judges that she might evade justice.
Authorities now need to determine the remaining time she must serve, factoring in the period already spent in custody.
