Laanigri was often accused of acts of torture in relation to the detention of Islamist activists after the 2003 Casablanca bombings and in connection with the secret Temara interrogation centre.

[1][3] In 1956 Laanigri started his career in the military as a corporal working with general Driss Benomar—who is also from Meknes.

[3] In 1977 while a colonel at the Gendarmerie he headed the military unit that was deployed to Zaire to help Mobutu quell the Shaba I rebellion.

[3] In September 1999 he was promoted by Mohammed VI to head the DST (Direction de Surveillance du Territoire) as a replacement for Driss Basri.

[5] Laanigri was the instigator of the Groupes urbains de sécurité (nickname Croatia) which were disbanded after he left the police directorate.