The US State Department on Thursday named Germany-based Antifa Ost, saying it is moving to designate four self-styled “Antifa” (anti-fascist) groups as terrorist organizations.
It also said he was pursuing three other violent antifa groups in Italy and Greece.
The Italian group is known in English as the Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front, or as the FAI/FRI when using the Italian language abbreviation.
The State Department translated the names of the two Greek groups as Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense.
What did the State Department say about this move?
It said the State Department intends to designate all four groups as foreign terrorist organizations by November 20.
“The designation of Antifa Ost and other violent Antifa groups supports President Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum-7, an initiative to disrupt self-described ‘anti-fascist’ networks, institutions, and organizations that use political violence and terrorist acts to undermine democratic institutions, constitutional rights, and fundamental freedoms.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted as saying.
“Groups associated with this movement espouse revolutionary anarchist or Marxist ideologies, including anti-American, ‘anti-capitalist’ and anti-Christian ideologies, and use them to incite and justify violent attacks domestically and abroad,” he said.
Trump took steps against antifa at home and abroad
Among other things, this designation makes it illegal for US citizens to obtain memberships or support groups, for example by donating money.
President Donald Trump has been vocal in recent years in his criticism of “Antifa” organizations in the US and beyond.
The US also designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization in September.
The US government did not cite specific incidents or reasons for the Antifa Ost designation. But attacks were noted in Germany and Hungary.And Hungary has designated the group as a terrorist entity.
The US State Department said, “Antifa Ost carried out multiple attacks in Germany between 2018 and 2023 against individuals it considers ‘fascist’ or part of the ‘right-wing landscape’ and is accused of carrying out multiple attacks in Budapest in mid-February 2023.”
Recent Antifa Ost Cases in Germany
A high-profile court case involving the group in Germany in recent years was a 2023 prison sentence for Lena E., a student from Dresden who was believed to be the ringleader of a group of people who seek out and attack individuals or groups they consider to be far-right extremists.
Another suspected member, Johan Gee, is believed to be the leader of a group within Antifa Ost that calls itself the “Hammer Gang” (hammer gang), was arrested late last year. Prosecutors are seeking to prosecute him and several other suspects on charges including attempted murder.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico