The title compound, C15H9BrN2O3S, was isolated as an unexpected product from the reaction of the anion of sodium 2-(1,3-benzothiazolyl)ethanonitrile with alpha,2-dibromo-5-nitrotoluene. Its structure features a benzothiazole fragment and a bromo- and nitro-substituted phenyl ring linked by a methyl ketone group. The dihedral angle between the benzothiazole and phenyl rings is 103.7 (2) degrees. The benzothiazole fragment is planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.021 (2) A. The nitro group is slightly rotated out of the phenyl-ring plane, with a O(2)-N(2)-C(14)-C(15) torsion angle of 16.4(7) degrees.