KIEV, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's state security service on Sunday placed anti-terrorism units on alert in response to a sharp rise in unspecified threats against sensitive installations including atomic power stations, airports and gas and oil pipelines.
The ex-Soviet republic is in the grip of mass anti-government protests and it was not clear if the unusual statement by Ukraine's SBU service, issued on its website, was connected to the unrest.
Describing the move as preventive, it said: "The SBU's anti-terrorist centre, in accordance with the law, is obliged to put on readiness anti-terrorist units on the territory of the state."
It said international airports, power stations and railway and bus stations in large cities were particularly at risk. (Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Kevin Liffey)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
