This film revealed for the first time the genetic legacy of the poison gas attacks against the people of Halabja in 1988. It followed a secret expedition with a British geneticist to the town close to the Iranian border, the site of the world’s first mass poison gas attack against civilians.

The film was originally broadcast for Channel 4’s Dispatches current affairs series in the UK. It was shown by CBS 60 Minutes programme in the USA, by ZDF in Germany and by ABC in Australia.

Saddam’s Secret Timebomb received a special commendation from The Rory Peck Trust, and was nominated by The Royal Television Society Awards in the ‘Best Foreign Documentary’ category.