The German group Antifa-Ost is on United States of America classified as a terrorist organization. The US State Department announced on Thursday that Antifa-Ost and three other groups from the left-wing extremist spectrum from Italy and Greece have been placed on the terrorist list, which will result in the groups’ assets held in the US being frozen and their members being banned from entering the US. Business relations with such groups will be punished. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the classification will come into effect on November 20.
The reason given was that between 2018 and 2023 a group called the Hammer Gang had “carried out numerous attacks against people they considered to be ‘fascists’ or part of ‘right-wing extremist groups’” in Germany. Besides, they will attack Neo-Nazis in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in February 2023. Groups classified as terrorists are “militant,” “anarchist,” or “anti-capitalist” organizations.
Left-wing extremist groups from Italy and Greece
However, the four newly rated networks do not appear to be active in the United States. Apart from Antifa-Ost, this is the so-called Informal Anarchist Federation from Italy, which has been active since 2003. This group, among other things, sent letter bombs and explosive packages to bank bosses, politicians, editorial offices and foreign embassies in Italy.
Two other groups from Greece are the Armed Proletarian Justice Group and the Revolutionary Class Self-Defense Group. The two groups were blamed for several explosions between 2023 and 2025, including at the Greek Ministry of Labor and an Athens riot police building.
Maja T case.
In connection with the attacks in Budapest, several alleged members of Antifa-Ost have been charged before the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe and the Dresden Regional Court of Appeal with, among other things, membership in a criminal organization, grievous bodily harm and attempted murder.
Maja T., another possible Hammer gang member, is also on trial in Budapest on charges of grievous bodily harm. Maja T. faces up to 24 years in prison in Budapest. While in prison, Maja T. repeatedly complained about poor prison conditions and therefore went on a hunger strike for 40 days in the summer. As a non-binary person, Maja T. faces particular discrimination in Hungary under the policies of right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. However, the federal government has so far rejected requests for Maja T.’s return to Germany.
Antifa as a terrorist group
Under US President Donald Trump’s administration, further action must be taken against alleged left-wing extremism in the US, especially since the assassination attempt on MAGA activist Charlie Kirk. In a decree in late September, Trump placed the Antifa movement on the terrorist list as a “militaristic, anarchist” organization. Antifa “explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States government,” he said.
The term Antifa basically means anti-fascist and includes not just one group, but many differently organized groups on the left-wing scene. Antifa has no fixed organizational structure or specific, clear hierarchy. This is the conclusion reached by non-profit research institutes and civil rights organizations in the US as well as the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Therefore, critics warn that the “Antifa” label could in future be applied to political opponents who criticize Trump and the administration on charges of terrorism.
