The US State Department said on Thursday that it was moving to designate four self-styled "antifa" (anti-fascist) groups as terrorist organizations, citing Germany-based Antifa Ost by name. 

It also said it 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 FAI/FRI, to use its Italian language acronym.

The State Department translated the two Greek groups' names as Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense.

What the State Department said about the move

The State Department intended to designate all four groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations as of November 20, it said. 

"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-fascism' networks, entities, and organizations that use political violence and terroristic acts to undermine democratic institutions, constitutional rights, and fundamental liberties," Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted as saying.

"Groups affiliated with this movement ascribe to revolutionary anarchist or Marxist ideologies, including anti-Americanism, 'anti-capitalism,' and anti-Christianity, using these to incite and justify violent assaults domestically and overseas," he said.

Trump moves against antifa at home and abroad

Among other things, the designation makes it illegal for US citizens to seek membership or to support the groups, for instance by donating funds.

President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of "antifa" organizations in the US and beyond in recent years.

The US also designated Antifa as a domestic terror organization in September.

The US government did not mention specific incidents or reasons for the Antifa Ost designation but noted attacks in Germany and Hungary, and Hungary having designated the group as a terrorist entity.

"Antifa Ost conducted numerous attacks against individuals it perceives as 'fascists' or part of the 'right-wing scene' in Germany between 2018 and 2023 and is accused of having conducted a series of attacks in Budapest in mid-February 2023," the US State Department said. 

Recent Antifa Ost cases in Germany

One high-profile court case involving the group in Germany in recent years was the 2023 prison sentence for Dresden student Lina E., deemed the ringleader of a group of people who would seek out and attack individuals or groups they considered far-right extremists.

Another suspected member, Johann G., believed to be the leader of a group within Antifa Ost that calls itself the "Hammer Gang" (Hammerbande), was arrested late last year. Prosecutors are seeking to try him and several other suspects on charges including attempted murder.

Edited by: Sean Sinico