CHINESE basketball players arriving in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games received a shocking welcome when they found themselves caught in the middle of a gunfight between armed gangsters and police.

The athletes and journalists were on their way by bus from Tom Jobim International Airport to the Olympic Village when the firefight broke out across Rio’s two main express highways - the red line and the yellow line, near the Maré favela in the north of the city, on Wednesday afternoon.

5 A man crouches down and runs for cover during gunfire

The terrified delegation were stuck right in the middle of the crossfire. Some were brave enough to take pictures from inside the bus during the exchange.

The frightened delegation of male basketball players, coaches and journalists posted pictures of street vendors, who normally sell goods to passing motorists, lying on the floor in a desperate bid to escape the bullets.

The images were uploaded onto Chinese social network pages.

5 The delegation has been hit by at least nine robberies

According to reports, four armed men exchanged shots with military police who were passing through the area. Police from Bonsucesso Station confirmed that shots were fired, one of the bullets hit the door of the police car but no one was injured.

The assailants fled the scene after the shooting. No one has been arrested. Agents said that they had not received a complaint from the Chinese Olympic team and there was no record of casualties.

5 Four armed men exchanged shots with military police who were passing through the area

Tulius Marcius, a correspondent from SporTV in China reported that Chinese media has been monitoring the security issues in Rio during the Olympics and reporters have seen their delegation hit by at least nine robberies.

China’s basketball team is in Group A, along with Australia, France, United States, Venezuela and Serbia and debut in the Rio-2016 Olympics on Saturday at 7pm, against the Americans.

The Red Line, is Rio’s 13-mile main freeway from the international airport into the city and the only highway into the Olympic Village and Olympic Park.

5 Carjackings and shootings are common occurrences in Rio

Everyone arriving for the Olympic Games from the international airport must pass along the Red Line motorway which is lined in large parts by Mare community, one of the most dangerous shanty-towns in the capital, in the grip of heavily armed drugs gangs.

Two years ago, just before the 2014 World Cup games, Rio sent in the hundreds of soldiers to clean up the no-go zone, using tanks, scores of army officers and heavy weaponry to try to wrest back control of the sprawling lawless slum.

But it’s evident these major security measures haven’t worked.

5 An image taken by Chinese basketball players on their phones of people lying on the road as shots are fired

RELATED STORIES MOTHER AND GUN Shooters to make Olympic history as mother and son compete at same Games for first time Pele Pulls Out Pele withdraws from Rio Olympics opening ceremony due to poor health just hours before event WHIRL FROM IPANEMA Your guide to the Rio 2016 opening ceremony as Brazil set to wow the world with a carnival twist Pictured Great Scot It's Hot Andy Murray slaps on the sunscreen to combat blazing Brazilian sun as he works up a sweat BOXING DRUG POSITIVE Irish boxer Michael O'Reilly to appeal after failed drugs test ahead of Games opening ceremony Pictured SYNCHRONISED GRINNING Selfie twin stunners Bia and Branca Feres are set to take Games synchro competition by storm Doing it for Dad Tom Daley ready to strike gold for Team GB at Rio Olympics... and dedicate win to late dad Robert

In recent incidents, a 17-year-old girl travelling as a passenger in the backseat of a car driven by her mother on the Red Line, was killed by a stray bullet.

And a 27-year-old psychologist was shot in the head by muggers on the Yellow Line which joins the Red Line by a slip road. Gangsters were robbing motorists when Anna Paula Cotta was hit and killed.

Both the Red and Yellow Lines are feared by motorist who travel the routes knowing that they could end up in the middle of a gun battle at any moment.

The dangerous routes have been dubbed the highway to hell as frequent shoot-outs force motorists to jump out of their cars and cower beside them as all hell breaks loose between rival drug gangs or fierce firefights kick off between police.

Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.