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The Vancouver Police Department is looking for three men after they were seen taking photographs at Pacific Centre Mall in downtown Vancouver.

A VPD media release describes the men as "Middle Eastern looking" and states they were observed around 6:30 p.m. taking photographs of the mall's entrances and exits.

There is no information to believe that these men have committed a crime," reads the release. "Nor do we have information to believe that the public is currently at risk."

"Police are interested in speaking with them about their activity in the mall," the release continues.

Update: At a January 15 press conference, VPD chief Adam Palmer said the force was never planning to go public with a warning about the men. Palmer explained the VPD only responded with information intended for the public after an internal report was leaked to media.

Palmer again stressed the men in question are not known to have done anything wrong.

"There is no information to believe that these men have committed a crime. Nor do we have information to believe that the public is currently at risk." he said quoted in an accompanying media release. "Out of an abundance of caution, we need to gather information to determine what was happening in the mall."

Update: "VPD says men taking pictures at Pacific Centre 'had a very logical explanation'"