Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel on Thursday said the crime rate in his country has gone up by 50 percent and attributed the increase to the surge of Syrian refugees.

"The crime rate in Lebanon rose by 50 percent," said Charbel, who is also a former general of the Internal Security Forces, adding that he does not intend to "frighten" people but it is the "reality."

The minister said the crisis in Syria, Lebanon's northern neighbor, is negatively affecting the security situation in his country with the huge influx of displaced Syrians. "We are witnessing crimes and offenses committed by Syrian nationals on a daily basis," Charbel said.

He urged Lebanese authorities to pledge support to security agencies in combating the rising crimes, in particular, to provide them with the needed "telecommunication data."

Lebanon is undergoing a political split among its leaders on whether to let the ministry of telecommunications to provide security agencies the data they needed to uncover criminal cases.

Meanwhile, in response to statement affirming al-Qaida's growing presence in Lebanon, the minister denied allegations that Lebanon has turned into a sanctuary for the terrorist group.

Last December, a defense ministry statement said al-Qaida members had been entering Lebanon under the disguise of Syrian opposition activists.