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CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A man indicted for torching Pride and Ukrainian flags displayed outside Cincinnati homes while people slept inside now faces federal charges.

The Cincinnati Fire Department arrested Thomas Niehaus, 52, after their investigation into a series of fires targeting flags in Clifton, Clifton Heights and Northside in the predawn hours of July 30.

These were not random acts of vandalism; they were “targeted, hateful attempts to intimidate and silence members of our community,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said when he was indicted in August.

Now, federal officials reveal in new court records that Niehaus admitted to setting the fires using a “tiki” torch and tiki torch fuel.

He agreed to talk with investigators, waived hi

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