Burnaby RCMP investigating bear spray incident at Metrotown

A file photo shows an aerial view of the Metrotown area of Burnaby, B.C.

Mounties in Burnaby are investigating after several bystanders were affected by bear spray outside the Metrotown mall Friday evening.

The bear spray was deployed during "an altercation between a group of young males" outside the mall near the McDonald's on the north side of the building, Burnaby RCMP said in an email to CTV News Saturday.

Officers were called to the scene around 7:45 p.m., and the youths had fled by the time they arrived, police said.

Metrotown security will be providing surveillance video to investigators, who are working to identify the people involved, according to Mounties.

Mall operations were not affected by the incident, police said, adding that their investigation is ongoing.