Police are vowing to arrest or charge pro-Palestine protesters if they unlawfully block traffic on a major city bridge after a magistrate denied legal protection for a proposed march.

Chief Magistrate Janelle Brassington ruled that Sunday’s planned march by up to 10,000 people across Brisbane‘s Story Bridge would be declared an unauthorised protest.

‘I’m satisfied (Queensland Police Service) has established there is a real and significant risk to persons in this case given the proposed route,’ she said on Thursday.

Ms Brassington said the planned protest was not unlawful but participants would not have protection against being criminally charged for actions such as obstructing traffic.

Rally organiser Remah Naji said outside court that participants would still gather at the march’s planned starting point in a nearby park.

‘The plan is still to go ahead with a peaceful assembly … we are considering our options at this stage,’ she said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said police would act to protect the safety of the community and maintain access for emergency vehicles to the major arterial road crossing the Story Bridge.

‘We have to make it quite clear that anyone participating in a protest which is not authorised faces the prospect of enforcement action being taken against them, whether that’s on the day or post-event,’ he said.

Rally organisers were considering their options, Justice for Palestine 's Remah Naji (above, centre) said.

Rally organisers were considering their options, Justice for Palestine ‘s Remah Naji (above, centre) said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said police would act to protect the community's safety and ensure access to the story bridge for the public (above, pro-Palestine protesters in Brisbane)

Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said police would act to protect the community’s safety and ensure access to the story bridge for the public (above, pro-Palestine protesters in Brisbane)

‘There are a range of offences that are open to investigators to utilise, and we will have a significant policing presence this weekend to manage whatever response the protest organisers wish to take.’

Mr Wildman urged Justice for Palestine to stay in contact with the police major events unit.

Justice for Palestine Magan-djin proposed the rally as part of Sunday’s nationwide day of action that has been billed as the largest pro-Palestine demonstration in Australia’s history.

Organisers were still considering a court appeal to authorise the march, Ms Naji said.

It comes after tens of thousands of protesters marched on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the days before Anthony Albanese revealed Australia would recognise a state of Palestine. 

Authorities believed around 90,000 people arrived at the Harbour Bridge on Sunday afternoon, after authorities went back and forth with organisers about what would be permitted in the weeks leading up to it. 

Joshua Lees of the Palestine Action Group believed the true attendance was three times greater than police’s estimate.

‘Absolutely incredible day today… we think we had up to 300,000 people,’ he said shortly after the event. 

'We will have a significant policing presence this weekend to manage whatever response the protest organisers wish to take,' Queensland Police (above) said

‘We will have a significant policing presence this weekend to manage whatever response the protest organisers wish to take,’ Queensland Police (above) said

Police estimated 90,000 people crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in protest (pictured) on August 3, organisers claim more than 300,000 were in attendance

Police estimated 90,000 people crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in protest (pictured) on August 3, organisers claim more than 300,000 were in attendance

Organisers and authorities deliberated about marching across the bridge in the days leading up to the protest (pictured, protesters in Sydney)

Organisers and authorities deliberated about marching across the bridge in the days leading up to the protest (pictured, protesters in Sydney)

After hearing emotionally-charged speeches, protesters began marching towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Hundreds of Palestinian flags waved above thousands of attendees as they crossed the bridge shoulder-to-shoulder. 

‘Confusing’ police messages did not lead to any incidents as attendees were warned to double back on the march and return to the CBD. 

Police later said the march could have quickly become ‘perilous’. 

‘I can honestly say in my 35 years of policing, that was a perilous situation,’ Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson said.

‘That was a very intense situation. We had more people than I’d ever seen in a small confined space.

‘We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. We had to make a risky call to halt the crowd with messaging, ensure they stopped, and then redirect them back – and I want to thank everyone for heeding that advice.’