Filed by American Realty Investors, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425
                                                Under the Securities Act of 1933
                     And Deemed Filed Pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c), Rule 14a-12(b),
                                           Rule 14d-2(b) and Rule 14d-9(a) Under
                                             the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                       Subject Company: Prime Group Realty Trust
                                                  Commission File No.: 001-13589

The following press release was issued by American Realty Investors, Inc.
("ARL") on April 26, 2002 with respect to the proposed merger between ARL and
Prime Group Realty Trust:

            AMERICAN REALTY INVESTORS PROPOSES TO ACQUIRE PRIME GROUP
                                  REALTY TRUST

         DALLAS, April 26, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Realty Investors, Inc.
(NYSE:ARL - news) announced that it is today submitting a proposal to the Board
of Directors of Prime Group Realty Trust (NYSE:PGE - news) for American Realty
to acquire Prime Group Realty, as well as its partnership, Prime Group Realty,
L.P.

         As part of the proposed transaction: (1) American Realty Investors
would acquire all of the common stock of PGE for $7.50 per share cash payment,
plus 0.2 shares of a new series of nonconvertible ARL Preferred Stock with a
$25.00 liquidation preference and an 8 percent annual dividend, as voted by
ARL's board of directors; (2) ARL would acquire all PGE Series A Preferred Stock
for a cash payment of $20.00 per share; and (3) ARL would exchange all PGE
Series B Preferred Stock for a new series of ARL Preferred Stock with all of the
same terms and conditions as the PGE Series B Preferred Stock.

         This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase
securities. None of the ARL preferred stocks proposed to be issued in exchange
for the equity securities of PGE have been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any state, and none of such
securities may be offered or sold in the United States of America absent such
registration or the availability of an exemption for such registration
requirements. No assurance can be given that any definitive agreement relating
to a proposed transaction will be reached, what the material terms of any such
agreement will be, or if the transactions contemplated in any such agreement, if
reached, ultimately will be consummated.

         Consummation of the acquisition will be subject to: (1) the approval of
the ARL and PGE Boards of Directors; (2) the negotiation, execution and delivery
of a definitive agreement; (3) the final approval of any relevant regulatory
agencies, or a review of appropriate disclosure documents by the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any state authorities; and (3) approval of the
stockholders of PGE.





         American Realty Investors is a real estate investment company that
holds a diverse portfolio of equity real estate located across the U.S.,
including office buildings, apartments, hotels, shopping centers and developed
and undeveloped land.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

         This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will,"
"expect," "anticipate," "estimate," or "continue" or the use of the negative
thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular,
any statement expressed or implied, concerning future events is a
forward-looking statement. There can be no assurance that any expectation
expressed or implied herein will prove to be correct, or that any contemplated
event or result will occur as anticipated. Among other factors, the
uncertainties associated with due diligence review and negotiation of definitive
documentation may cause actual results to differ from those anticipated.

Contact:
American Realty Investors, Inc.
Phyllis Wolper, Director, Investor Relations
(800) 400-6407
investor.relations@bcminc.com

http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/020426/26758.html; Friday April 26, 5:15 pm Eastern Time