Loaded assault-style rifle found in tent bag in Strathcona neighbourhood

A loaded semi-automatic, assault-style rifle thatsomebody left in a bag in a residential laneway not far from Strathcona Parkis triggering fears in aneighbourhood already on edge because of the nearby tent city that's sprung up since spring.

Vancouver police say the gun was found Thursday in an oversized tent bag by a construction worker around 9:30 a.m., in a lane or alley near Prior Street and Heatley Avenue, not far from the west end of Strathcona Park.

When Deputy Chief Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department tweeted out a photo of the gun on Tuesday, it immediately attracted attention and some fear online thatthe gun may have turned up in the nearby tent city.

However, Tania Visintin of the Vancouver Police Department said the gun was not found in the park itself.

Police described the bag as anoversized tent bag that a tent could be folded or collapsed into.

Visintin said that the gun's serial number had been removed so a forensic team is swabbing the firearm for fingerprints.

"It's making it quite difficult," said Visintin.

Police are also reviewing security camera footage from the area to try to track down who left the bag behindwith such dangerous contents inside.

However, police confirmed the gun isnot a restricted firearm in Canada.

"It does pose a risk. That's why our members got involved."