Seven individuals accused of belonging to a militant far-left group known as Antifa Ost – or the “Hammer Gang” – have appeared in court.
At the hearing today at Dresden’s Higher Regional Court, they face charges of membership in a criminal organisation and a string of violent assaults on suspected right-wing extremists across Germany and Hungary.
The proceedings, held under tight security, mark the latest chapter in a sprawling investigation into the Leipzig-based network, which prosecutors say formed around late 2017 or early 2018.
Federal Prosecutor Bode Vogler referred to issues of “militant anti-fascism and left-wing extremism”.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly consider violence against right-wing extremists “legitimate”.
They are said to reject the rule of law. The goal of the alleged attacks was to “stop the political activities of right-wing extremists”.
The Hammer Gang is described as having a “methodical and carefully planned approach” to its actions.
During training sessions, “abuse” was reportedly taught. The alleged attackers intended for their victims to be “significantly injured”.
The group is alleged to have used hammers, small axes, batons and pepper spray as weapons.
To disguise themselves, the perpetrators reportedly dressed as delivery workers or tradespeople, wearing balaclavas during the alleged attacks.
In total, at least 14 raids were reported, leaving 35 people injured in Germany and abroad. In the attacks in Budapest, the perpetrators allegedly accepted the possibility of fatal consequences.
The six men and one woman – including alleged leaders named only as “Johann G” and “Paul M” – are charged with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, aggravated theft and property damage, among other offences.
Notable incidents included two assaults on the owner of a Thuringian restaurant frequented by right-wing activists, as well as ambushes at train stations in Wurzen and Dessau.
The network allegedly maintained depots stocked with weapons and disguises and organised training sessions to rehearse combat techniques and attack scenarios. Allegedly, they were in contact with far-left football hooligans.
They also are said to have kept a list of 215 people they wanted to attack, claiming these people should be “held accountable” for a raid by far-right activists in Leipzig in 2016.
The case extends beyond Germany’s borders: Johann G and Paul M face specific accusations over assaults in Budapest in February 2023, timed around the “Day of Honour” – an annual far-right gathering commemorating the 1945 Siege of Budapest breakout.
Hungarian authorities have linked the group to a wave of ideologically motivated beatings during the event, where assailants – mistaking passersby for extremists – used similar tactics, resulting in broken bones and hospitalisations.
At least nine people were attacked over three days, with victims including locals and foreigners; three suspects were arrested in Hungary but most fled, prompting international warrants.
Johann G, 31, a fugitive since 2020 and arrested on a Thuringian train in November 2025, is allegedly a pivotal figure responsible for planning operations, recruiting accomplices and forging links within the far-left scene.
He entered the courtroom grinning amid applause from supporters. He could face life imprisonment for attempted murder.
The trial builds on a 2023 Dresden conviction of “Lina E” – a student and key associate sentenced to five years and three months for similar assaults – and three accomplices, whose case elevated her to icon status in anarchist circles.
Further proceedings loom in Düsseldorf and elsewhere against affiliates.
The network’s international ties have drawn scrutiny from Hungary, where prosecutors describe the Budapest attacks as co-ordinated by a “transnational red criminal organisation” akin to Germany’s Hammer Gang, with shared methods of surveillance, rapid strikes and evasion.
Seven suspects surrendered to German police in January 2025 to avoid Budapest trials.
One defendant, “Maja T”, previously held in Hungary, decried cell infestations and strip searches, launching a hunger strike before transfer.
German investigative sources contacted by Brussels Signal suggested that direct involvement in actions associated with Antifa Ost by individuals connected to German government-linked organisations could emerge soon. https://t.co/MDSf8cxWud
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 18, 2025
German authorities view Antifa Ost as part of resurgent left-wing extremism, with more than 800 physical attacks on Alternative for Germany MPs alone in the first half of 2025, amid broader concerns over politicised violence.
The US State Department recently designated four European anarchist groups, including affiliates, as global terrorist organisations, a move hailed by the AfD but criticised by others as risking a crackdown on anti-fascist activism.
Supporters rallied outside the court today with banners proclaiming “Free the Antifas”, framing the defendants as defenders against neo-Nazism, while victims’ advocates decried the alleged assaults as unchecked vigilantism.
Hearings are scheduled for an average of 10 days per month until July 2026, with potential extensions; prosecutors emphasise the group’s “methodical and planned” approach as a threat to democratic order.
One defence lawyer said the trial tests the boundaries of “militant anti-fascism”.
The plenary of the European Parliament has confirmed the immunity of the Italian self-declared ‘anti-fascist’ Ilaria Salis. https://t.co/I8uwl6G5OS
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 8, 2025
