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Vancouver police say one person was taken to hospital under the Mental Health Act after a standoff in the downtown core Thursday morning.

Police said they were investigating reports of a person with a possible weapon inside a suite in a building at Howe and Davie streets, prompting police to block nearby streets to contain the area.

Syed Ali, who was staying in a nearby hotel on a visit from Ontario, said he heard a gunshot between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

“It was clearly a gunshot,” he said.

“I kind of woke up and was thinking and waiting, maybe there could be more shots, but there was none.”

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Police declined to comment on the report of gunfire.

Video from the area appeared to show the Vancouver police Emergency Response Team (ERT) on scene.

The area has since reopened to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.