Pro-Palestine protesters have cancelled a planned demonstration outside Myer’s Christmas windows after Myer scrapped the launch event scheduled for Sunday and the premier accused the protesters of “politicising Christmas”.

The organiser of a pro-Palestine protest group has provided a controversial reason for plans to disrupt the Myer Christmas Windows, as they ignored pleas from Victoria Police to respect the holiday tradition.

Myer’s annual Christmas window unveiling event has been scrapped over safety concerns due to a planned pro-Palestine protest, calling for the end of the ongoing war.

In a move that has disappointed Melburnians, Myer has announced the cancellation of its iconic annual Christmas window unveiling on Bourke Street Mall following threats of disruption by pro-Palestine protesters.

A water pistol has been seized and a man charged after police rushed to Sydney's CBD after reports a weapon had been discharged. Officers descended on the Domain park near NSW's Parliament House on Thursday afternoon after reports a man discharged what's believed to be a replica firearm, NSW Police said.

A decades old tradition will be scrapped as pro-Palestine activists threaten to disrupt the opening of the iconic Myer Christmas Windows, ignoring pleas from police to respect the holiday ritual.

Related: Australia backs UN resolution recognising ‘permanent sovereignty’ of Palestinians in major departure. He said that when it comes down to it “most people want to see

Myer has been forced to cancel the annual unveiling of its Christmas window display in Melbourne's Bourke Street mall.

The official unveiling of Myer's Christmas windows on Bourke Street this Sunday will not go ahead after a protest was organised to disrupt the event.