Reuters pictures from the scene on Wednesday showed police inspecting the station wagon at the gate with the words "Stop Globalisation Politics" written in white on its right side and "You damn killers of children and old people" on the left.

There were no immediate reports of casualties and it was not clear if Merkel was inside the building.

Dozens of police and a fire engine attended the incident.

The driver, who appeared to be in late middle age, was taken away in a wheelchair.

"We are establishing if the driver deliberately drove against (the gate)," Berlin police said on Twitter.

"He has been taken into custody."

A firefighter subsequently moved the car, which had a licence plate from the northwestern county of Lippe, away from the gate. Both fence and car appeared largely undamaged.

Merkel was scheduled host a video conference of German state premiers on Wednesday, at which an extension to the coronavirus lockdown and further steps to combat the pandemic were due to be discussed.

Europe is on high alert after suspected Islamist militants killed eight people in Paris, Nice and Vienna in recent weeks.

Australian Associated Press