Two incidents of vandalism against barriers on the Great Belt Bridge have been reported to the police following a major disruption caused by a payment system failure. Sund & Bælt’s press officer, Jens Villemoes, confirmed the incidents.

The payment system, Nets, experienced a breakdown on Saturday evening, leading to significant issues with card payments. Queues formed in both directions at the Great Belt Bridge, according to the Danish Road Directorate.

Villemoes stated that frustrated motorists attempted to force open two barriers due to the payment issues. The motorists’ frustration led to harsh interactions with employees, and support has been offered to the affected staff.

South Zealand and Lolland-Falster Police reported on X (formerly Twitter) that death threats were made against staff on Saturday evening.

The cause of the Nets breakdown is still under investigation. Nets’ press officer, Søren Winge, estimates that the breakdown began at 7:30 p.m. and lasted nearly three hours.

Villemoes acknowledged the timing of the incident, stating that it was particularly frustrating for both the company and customers that it occurred on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

While the payment system was not entirely shut down, customers with Brobizz or license plate payment options were not directly affected. Payment alternatives such as MobilePay and cash were available. However, the high volume of foreign travelers requiring assistance caused additional delays.

The Nets breakdown impacted all card types and also affected Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.