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Police have shut down part of downtown Vancouver after a distraught man with a handgun walked into the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel early this morning.


Police say the man walked into the lobby of the hotel around 2:30 a.m. PT and showed his gun to staff.

He is now in a public area by himself on the second floor. Officers have been negotiating with him, but so far he has only asked for water and made no demands, said police.

Police believe the man is a 28-year-old from Surrey, B.C., with a history of mental illness, but no previous connection with the hotel.

"Our negotiators are speaking with this man, trying to figure out what he wants and why he is here," said Const. Brian Montegue.

Police initially told guests to stay in their rooms, but began allowing them to leave after several guest reportedly snuck out of the hotel through a back staircase.

The hotel is located in the city's downtown business district near Burrard Street and Canada Place, and traffic around the hotel has been blocked off for several blocks.

The incident has forced many in the area to change their plans for the morning, including Premier Christy Clark, who had to postpone a news conference scheduled nearby at the Canada Place building.