A man accused of brutally gouging out his neighbour's eyes with his bare hands during a fight over a leaking water pipe has been seized by police.

The 42-year-old attacker, named only as Jian by police in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is said to have challenged neighbour Lian, 59, and whacked him across the head with a brick.

But Lian fought back and bit Jian's arm as they brawled in the yard outside their homes on 17th April.

Photo shows the scene where a man gouged out a neighbour's eyes during an argument over leaking pipe in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Thursday, 17 April, 2025. The man was charged with attempted murder. Note: Picture is taken from local media. (AsiaWire/NX)

Enraged, Jian is said to have stuck his fingers in Lian's eyes ripping both of them out and dropping them on the ground.

Paramedics found Lian with a bloodied face and a dislocated jaw but did not immediately realise his eyes had been removed.

It was only when police were examining the crime scene that they found the eyes amid rubbish and building rubble.

One had been crushed and the other was intact but surgeons were unable to reattach it.

Photo shows the scene where a man gouged out a neighbour's eyes during an argument over leaking pipe in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Thursday, 17 April, 2025. The man was charged with attempted murder. Note: Picture is taken from local media. (AsiaWire/NX)

Jian was later released on NTD120,000 (approx. GBP 3,000) bail by Keelung District Prosecutor’s Office facing a charge of attempted murder.

Locals say Lian had a history as a troublesome neighbour banging doors at night, harassing Jian's elderly father, and allegedly filming the family in the bathroom.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)