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Vancouver police are investigating after a dead baby was found in a portable toilet in the Downtown Eastside on Wednesday night.

“This is, without a doubt, an extremely tragic incident,” said Vancouver police Const. Tania Visintin in a statement Thursday.

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“We need to speak with any witnesses and the mother of this baby as we are deeply concerned for her mental and physical well-being,” she said, adding that it was a tough night for the community and the police department.

Shortly before 6 p.m. police were called to the area of Main and Hastings streets for reports of a newborn baby inside a portable washroom. Visintin said it was obvious to responding officers that the baby was dead.

She said police haven’t yet determined the age of the infant. It’s unknown whether the mother gave birth in the restroom.

Photo by Jason Payne / PNG

“All I do know is that it was a newborn baby,” she said. “As for days, weeks or hours (old), I don’t know have that information.”