In this paper we study finite group extensions represented by special cohomology classes. As an application, we obtain some restrictions on finite groups which can act freely on a product of spheres or on a product of real projective spaces. In particular, we prove that if (Z/p)r acts freely on (S1)k , then r ≤ k.

Let $pounds$ be the category of locally compact abelian groups and $A,Cin pounds$. In this paper, we define component extensions of $A$ by $C$ and show that the set of all component extensions of $A$ by $C$ forms a subgroup of $Ext(C,A)$ whenever $A$ is a connected group. We establish conditions under which the component extensions split and determine LCA groups which are component projective. ...