STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.

No Warning

Did the CIA issue a warning to U.S. citizens to avoid using the Paris Metro during the 2024 Summer Olympics? No, that's not true: No official statements or credible sources confirm such a warning as of June 18, 2024. Additionally, warnings and travel advisories are typically issued by the U.S. State Department, not the CIA.

The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here) published by International Leaks on June 14, 2024, under the on-screen title "THE TERRORISM THREAT LEVEL IN THE PARIS METRO HAS REACHED ITS PEAK." It began:

#Breaking The CIA has issued a warning to U.S citizens advising against using the metro in Paris during the Olympics due to elevated terrorist threats.

#BreakingNews‌ #Paris #ParisOlympics2024 #Usa #CIA #Internationalleaks

This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:

(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Tue Jun 18 22:31:56 2024 UTC)

Lead Stories found the same video in another post on X (archived here) published on June 12, 2024, under a similar caption:

🇺🇸 CIA issues warning to Americans not to use subway during Paris Olympics due to high terrorist threat. - FRWL reports

The video is embedded below:

🇺🇸 CIA issues warning to Americans not to use subway during Paris Olympics due to high terrorist threat. - FRWL reports pic.twitter.com/DmnF0Q1oK2

-- Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) June 12, 2024

U.S. agencies

Department of State

In a June 19, 2024, email, a State Department spokesperson told Lead Stories that the social media video is fake. The agency also referred Lead Stories to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France's 2024 Special Events page, which includes tips and guidance for Americans visiting France. The page does not make any mention of a CIA warning for Americans using the Paris Metro.

Additionally, the State Department did issue a "Worldwide Caution" on terrorism (archived here) on October 19, 2023, which also appears on the website for the American Embassy in the French capital. It said:

Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. U.S. citizens should:

• Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

CIA

Lead Stories found no warnings or advisories regarding the Paris Metro on the website of the CIA. The Metro is the name of the subway system that is a major transportation means in Paris.

Lead Stories reached out to the CIA regarding the claim and will update this story when a response is received.

Google search

Lead Stories did searches using keywords on Google News, visible here (archived here), and found no credible documents or reporting as of June 18, 2024, to corroborate the claim that "The CIA has issued a warning to U.S citizens advising against using the metro in Paris during the Olympics due to elevated terrorist threats."

Read more

Other Lead Stories fact checks about the Paris Olympics can be found here.