One female student and two men are charged with, among other things, forming a criminal organization and grievous bodily harm. One other man is charged with lesser crimes, including criminal damage. The three men are on the run.

Federal prosecutors believe the student from Leipzig, named only as Lina E, in line with German privacy laws, is the leader of a larger militant group allegedly responsible for several attacks on right-wing extremists in the states of Saxony and Thuringia.

The victims of the attacks were badly beaten and received life-threatening injuries.

Dozens of demonstrators turned up outside the courtroom to show solidarity with the defendants early on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Solidarity Alliance said: “We are here because consistent anti-fascism is necessary and legitimate.”

The alliance was providing financial support for those affected, she said.