News In Brief

Jewish group claims role in bombing Soviets' home

Several bomb explosions rocked a Soviet residence in the Bronx early Wednesday and set fire to an automobile. There were no injuries.

The explosions went off in rapid succession about 3:15 a.m. at a high-rise building housing Soviet diplomatic personnel.

Ten minutes after the explosions, an anonymous caller claiming to be from a group called Jewish Direct Action took responsibility for the blasts.

Police said Soviet officials barred responding police and fire units from entering the compound immediately after the blasts occurred.

Meanwhile, the Tass news agency reported that two US tourists were expelled from the Soviet Union Wednesday for conducting ''activities of a pro-Zionist character.''

Tass said Meir Schweiger and Michael Strick ''tried to conduct activities of a pro-Zionist character.''