Antifa-Affiliated Groups in Europe Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations: A Closer Look at the State Department's Action
The State Department is set to designate four Antifa-affiliated groups in Europe as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specifically Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), aligning them with notorious terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda. This move expands President Trump's directive on domestic terrorism to an international level.
The Antifa-linked cells in Germany, Italy, and Greece are accused of orchestrating bombings, shootings, and other politically motivated attacks. This designation requires U.S. financial institutions to freeze the assets of these groups and prohibits their members from entering the United States. It also allows for the prosecution of individuals under U.S. jurisdiction who provide material support to these designated groups.
One of the groups, Antifa Ost, has been linked to attacks in Germany between 2018 and 2023, leading to charges against seven individuals. The Hungarian government labeled the group as terrorists in September 2025 after members allegedly assaulted people in Budapest in 2023.
The International Revolutionary Front, also known as the Informal Anarchist Federation, is an Italy-based coalition endorsing armed conflict against the state. The group has been involved in numerous violent incidents, including letter bombs, small explosive devices, and shootings.
Two Greece-based groups, Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self Defense, have targeted government buildings in Greece, with the latter dedicating a bombing to the Palestinian people. The State Department's principal deputy spokesperson emphasized the commitment to dismantling these terror networks that seek to undermine Western civilization.
Senator Eric Schmitt commended the designation, highlighting the importance of holding radical groups accountable for political violence. This move represents a rare application of foreign terrorism sanctions against far-left extremist groups, which are typically addressed as domestic security concerns by European governments.