A New Trial Begins
A big trial has started in Germany. It is taking place in the city of Dresden (German court). Seven people are on trial. There are six men and one woman.
These people have accused of serious crimes. They have said to be part of a far-left group. This group has known by a nickname: the “Hammer Gang.”
The group’s real name is reportedly Antifa Ost. This name means “Anti-Fascist East.” The trial is about attacks that happened over several years. The attacks have aimed at people they saw as right-wing extremists. German court
This trial is important. It highlights the problem of violence from all extreme political sides in Germany. The trial has expected to last for many months, until July 2026.
Who Are the Accused? German court
The seven people on trial has accused of being part of a criminal organization. They have also charged with causing severe bodily harm. They face years in prison if they have found guilty.
The suspects have partly identified by only their first names and initial. They include people like Johann G. and Paul M.
- Johann G. has said to be a high-ranking leader. Prosecutors say he planned the attacks. They say he also found new people to join the group. German court
- Paul M. has accused of working closely with Johann G. He has said to have organized training. The group practiced fighting methods at these sessions. He also kept the supplies for the attacks.
They kept tools for the attacks in secret places. These supplies included hammers, pepper spray, and disguises. They also used special phones to hide their plans. German court
The Charges: Brutal Attacks German court
The people on trial face charges for attacks between 2018 and 2023. These attacks were often brutal. They injured several people severely. German court
The name “Hammer Gang” comes from how the attacks have done. The suspects allegedly beat their victims with hammers and other striking tools.
Attacks in Germany
The group focused their violence in eastern German states. These states include Saxony and Thuringia.
One main target was a restaurant owner. This man’s restaurant was a meeting place for right-wing activists. The owner has attacked two times. German court
Another victim has a man named Tobias N. He has attacked in the city of Leipzig. It has beaten with hammers. He suffered a broken skull. He needed surgery and metal plates in his head.
The attacks have carefully planned. The group would watch their targets closely first. They wanted to know the victims’ daily routines. Then, they would use a “scout” to check the area before the attack group moved in. German court
Attacks in Hungary German court
The group has also accused of attacks outside of Germany. This happened in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
The attacks took place in February 2023. This has around an event called the “Day of Honour.” This annual event brings right-wing extremists from across Europe to the city. German court
Johann G. and Paul M. have charged with attacking and injuring several people in Budapest. Another German activist, Maja T., is already on trial in Hungary. She has accused of trying to attack neo-Nazis before the same event.
The Government’s Position German court
The German government takes a clear stand. They say that there is no place for private violence in a democracy. This idea has called “vigilante justice.”
The Interior Minister of Germany has said that the government will stop all left-wing violence. She said that a democratic country must have a “monopoly” on force. Only the state—the police and military—can use force legally.
German authorities have noted that far-left extremism is a serious threat. They say the violence has often planned and very brutal. They say the attackers are sometimes ready to cause very serious or even deadly injuries.
The Previous Case of Lina E.
This trial is not the first big case against this kind of far-left violence. There was a very famous trial that ended in 2023. This trial also took place in Dresden.
The main defendant in that case has a student named Lina E. She was accused of leading the group.
- Lina E. was found guilty. The court found her guilty of being a member of a criminal group. They also convicted her of causing serious bodily harm.
- She was sentenced to more than five years in prison.
- The judge in the case made a key point. He said that fighting right-wing extremists is a “respectable motive.” But he quickly added that the attacks were still “serious criminal acts.”
Lina E. has become a symbol for some left-wing groups. They protest and demand that she be freed. This shows the deep political conflict around these cases.
The American Designation German court
The US government has also gotten involved in this topic. This month, the US made a formal decision.
The US State Department named Antifa Ost as a terrorist group. The US put this German group on its terrorist list. They did this along with other far-left groups in Europe.
This US designation has real effects.
- Members of the group cannot enter the US.
- The US can freeze any money the group has in the United States.
- It is a crime to give any kind of help to this group.
However, experts question this US decision. They say the German group is not a traditional terrorist organization. Some experts said that Antifa Ost was not a major threat anymore. German officials simply said they had “taken note” of the US decision. They did not ban the group themselves.
The far-right political party in Germany, the AfD, welcomed the US ban. They want the German government to ban the group too. This shows how political the fight against extremism has become.
Why Is Eastern Germany a Hotspot?
This violence is common in eastern Germany. There is a historical reason for this.
Eastern Germany was once a communist state. After Germany was reunified, this area became a hotspot for far-right groups. These groups often target immigrants and foreigners.
In response, strong anti-fascist groups grew up there. They want to fight the far-right groups. Some of these anti-fascist groups, like Antifa Ost, use violence to do this.
This creates a cycle of violence. People on both the far-left and the far-right use illegal force. Both sides say they are fighting a great evil. But the German state says that their methods are criminal. The courts must decide on the guilt of these attackers.
Fight Extremism.
The trial of the seven alleged members of the German Hammer Gang has started in Dresden. These six men and one woman face serious charges. They are accused of planned, violent attacks against right-wing people. The attacks injured many people. They even used hammers in their attacks.
This court case highlights the hard task of Germany. Germany must fight extremism from both the far-left and the far-right. The government insists that violence is illegal, no matter the political goal. The American decision to call the group a terrorist organization adds another layer of complexity. The long trial will show how German courts handle this serious challenge to the rule of law.
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