Seven people have gone on trial in Dresden, eastern Germany, charged with being members or supporters of a militant, criminal left-wing extremist group, Antifa Ost - also known as the hammer gang.
Earlier this month the United States designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization, along with several other far-left European groups.
German prosecutors say the group, founded in late 2017 or early 2018, carried out violent attacks on people they considered to be part of the right-wing scene. The attacks took place in Germany and in the Hungarian capital Budapest.
The six men and one woman who are on trial face charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and property damage.
They have been named only as Henry A, Tobias E, Johann G, Thomas J, Melissa K, Paul M and Julian W, in line with German privacy laws.
According to prosecutors, the attacks, which persisted over several years, were prepared for intensively and included, for example, spying on the targets in advance. In several cases, victims were severely injured with blows from a hammer and batons.
One of the seven defendants, Johann G, is charged with having a prominent role in the group. He is accused of planning the attacks and recruiting members. Another defendant, Paul M, is said to have organized combat training for the group.
In an attack in January 2019, Johann G, Tobias E, and others allegedly assaulted four individuals at Germany's Dessau-Rosslau train station as they returned from a rally commemorating the World War Two bombing of the city.
The defendants reportedly struck the victims on the head with heavy tools, including a hammer and iron bar, continuing to inflict serious injuries even after the victims were down.
Johann G and Paul M are also implicated in violent events in Budapest in February 2023, where they reportedly attacked right-wing activists attending a commemoration rally.
Antifa Ost's designation as a terrorist group in the US comes amidst a broader crackdown on left-wing extremism under President Trump's administration, making the group members ineligible for entry into the US and freezing their assets.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has endorsed this designation, calling for similar actions from the German government, with officials arguing that it is crucial to confront all forms of extremism.
The German foreign ministry has stated it acknowledges the US's decision but has not publicly indicated a planned course of action.
