This is the terrifying moment an armed gang robbed passengers on a bus and shot at the driver - who avoided being killed by a matter of inches.

The shocking incident took place in the Chilean city of El Monte and was captured on a security camera inside the bus.

According to local reports the gang - who did not even attempt to disguise their identities - boarded the bus and began robbing passengers.

Terrifying: The footage shows passengers cowering on the bus after the armed gang exit and fire bullets at it

They then turned their attention to the driver and fired a bullet at him from close range after he refused to stop and hand over his money.

The clip shows the bullet missing his head by a matter of inches as the glass window shatters and he moves to his left to get out of the way.

The gang later exited the bus and began firing bullets at it - the footage shows terrified passengers cowering for their lives.

It was also reported that the leader of the gang is believed to be a woman - someone they have claimed to be very violent.

Although it is not uncommon for buses to get attacked in this manner in the area, there has been a rise in cases where the leader of the gang involved has been a woman.

In the video the driver, who was transporting passengers between La Florida and Talagante in the country's Santiago Metropolitan region, confirmed that one of the attackers was indeed a lady.

He added that she was accompanied by two men and stated that during the attack the passengers alerted him to the fact that the group had stolen their belongings.

Dodged death: The bus driver claims he was protected by the cabin when a bullet was fired at him by the gang

He also claimed that the cabin, which took the impact out of the bullet as it flew past his head, ultimately saved his life.

Talking to a local TV station, with his face partially covered to protect his identity, he said: 'I've been driving for many years but have never had something like this happen to me before, ever.

'It was terrible, I would never do something like that to someone.'