German Chancellor Angela Merkel disturbed by mentally unbalanced man at her home

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been the victim of a stalker, a government spokesperson confirmed to The Local on Tuesday. The mentally disturbed man has been detained after he twice trespassed on the grounds of Merkel's weekend home.

The stalker, reportedly aged around 40, managed to circumvent security measures at Merkel's vacation home in the eastern Uckermark region in the state of Brandenburg, ringing her doorbell twice.

Merkel was home the first time the man came calling, while the second time only her husband was in the house, according to details reported by daily Bild and confirmed by a government spokesperson with The Local.

"Naturally security has its limits," the spokesperson said. "It isn't the case that the Chancellor is hermetically shielded from the public around the clock - she wants to lead a normal life. It's always a balance."

The man was known to authorities, having been turned away from the Chancellor's central Berlin apartment several weekends ago, according to The Local.

When police arrested him outside her country house near Berlin he said he wanted to know why she had not replied to his letters.

He was said to be "furious" that his letters to Mrs Merkel went unanswered. Security around the Chancellor has been intensified, This is London reports.